Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Thursday, 20 April 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 May 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Friday, 5 May 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Saudi Arabia: Prisoners

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia concerning the judicial treatment of Salma al Shehab and Noura al Qahtani; and concerning their treatment, and the treatment of other women, in Saudi prisons.

Original answer: We have raised the continued detention of individuals for expressing their political views, including women and women's rights defenders, with the Saudi government. The FCDO is monitoring the cases of Salma al-Shehab and Noura al-Qahtani. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] I most recently raised their cases with the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission on 11 April. We will continue to raise human rights issues, including individual cases, with the Saudi authorities.

The answer was corrected by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative)

on Tuesday, 9 May 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Corrected answer: We have raised the continued detention of individuals for expressing their political views, including women and women's rights defenders, with the Saudi government. The FCDO is monitoring the cases of Salma al-Shehab and Noura al-Qahtani. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] I most recently raised their cases with the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission on 11 April. We will continue to raise human rights issues, including individual cases, with the Saudi authorities.

Secondary information