Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 December 2003. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 December 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to discuss with the Sudanese authorities acts of flogging under their penal code, with particular reference to the case of Intisar Bakri Abdulgadir. (Holding answer 16 December 2003).

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with the Sudanese authorities acts of flogging under their penal code, with particular reference to the case of Intisar Bakri Abdulgadir. [144155] Mr. Mullin: [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The promotion of human rights is one of the British Government's priorities in Sudan and we raise human rights issues on a regular basis, both bilaterally and as part of the EU-Sudan Dialogue. I discussed the implementation of the penal code in Sudan with the Sudanese ambassador on 2 December. More recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn), discussed the human rights situation in Sudan in general with the President of Sudan in Khartoum on 10 December. Our embassy in Khartoum has already raised the case of Intisar Bakri Abdulgadir with the Government of Sudan and will be discussing it further with them. The embassy continues to monitor the human rights situation and to lobby the Government of Sudan.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 144155; 415 c975-6W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Corporal punishment Human rights Foreign relations Punishment Torture Sudan Abdulgadir, Intsar Baki
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk