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Proceeding contribution from Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 25 March 2009. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Ashraf (Geneva Convention).


Ashraf (Geneva Convention)

I listened to what the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) said about the Library note—I shall take a look at it—but now the hon. Gentleman has mentioned it, too. The accusation that people cannot leave Ashraf is a canard—I use that word against not them but the Iranian regime. In the past eight weeks, the International Committee of the Red Cross went to Ashraf and investigated the claim, but found only evidence proving that people can, and do, leave. Lord Avebury, Lord Corbett and I challenged Human Rights Watch to come up with the evidence, but it ignored our individual letters. It has been acutely embarrassed by its repetition of this accusation and has never shown any evidence to prove the Iranian regime's accusation that people cannot leave Ashraf.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
490 c87WH 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Subjects
Armed conflict Geneva Conventions Iraq Protection Refugees Iran Ashraf
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk