Written question asked by Nadia Whittome (Labour) on Friday, 2 June 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 June 2023 (named day). It was answered by David Rutley (Conservative) on Thursday, 8 June 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Iraq: Political Prisoners

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with Kurdish authorities on the release of (a) Sherwan Sherwani, (b) Guhdar Zebari and (c) other political prisoners in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

Answer: The UK is committed to pressing the case for improvements in the human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), and we consistently raise our issues about restrictions on freedom of expression, in particular the conviction and sentencing of journalists and political activists. During his visit to the KRI in March the Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon raised concerns over restrictions on media freedom with senior figures in the Kurdistan Regional Government. Our Ambassador in Baghdad, and our Consul General in Erbil, also raise these issues regularly with senior figures in the Kurdistan Regional Government, including the Prime Minister and President, and meet Kurdish journalists and members of civil society to discuss their concerns.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 187387
Session: 2022-23
Related items: Sherwan Sherwani
Monday, 11 September 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Iraq Political prisoners Kurds Sherwani, Sherwan Zebari, Guhdar
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk