Written question asked by Robert Halfon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 October 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 23 October 2020 (named day). It was answered by James Cleverly (Conservative) on Friday, 23 October 2020 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Iraq: Kurds

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken in response to the burning on 17 October 2020 in Baghdad of a Kurdish party office and the flag of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We strongly condemned the attack on the Kurdistan Democratic Party's office in Baghdad and made clear that addressing political difference through dialogue not violence was a fundamental element of a functioning democracy. The UK has welcomed steps taken to hold those responsible to account. We continue to work with the Government of Iraq on enhancing security measures, including through discussions during the Iraqi Prime Minister's Guest of Government visit to the UK on 22 October.

Secondary information