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Written question asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 March 2014.


Democratic Republic of Congo

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the document reportedly circulated by the Ministry of the Interior of the Democratic Republic of the Congo advocating torture of political activists returning to that country by refoulement. [HL5677]

Answer

The Home Office has not seen the alleged document and therefore can make no assessment of this.

Our current guidance on the handling applications for asylum from nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set out in an Operational Guidance Note (OGN) of May 2012 and two country policy bulletins of November 2012 and February 2014. The OGN recognises that political opponents of the DRC government, based on available information, may be at risk of persecution and warrant protection in the UK. Any returns to the DRC are only undertaken if safe to do so.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5677; 752 c313WA
Session
2013-14
Subjects
Asylum Deportation Politics and government Torture Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk