British Nationals Abroad: Detainees
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help free (a) Alaa Abd El-Fattah, (b) Jagtar Johal Signh, (c) Jimmy Lai and (d) other British nationals detained overseas.
Answered by Mr Hamish Falconer
FCDO consular staff are currently providing consular assistance in over 1600 cases relating to arrest or detention. Consular staff aim to stay in regular contact with British Nationals in detention and do what they can to support their health and welfare. The UK Government cannot interfere in criminal or civil court proceedings in other countries. However, where there are human rights concerns such as allegations of torture or mistreatment, with the consent of the person affected, we raise these concerns with the local authorities, highlighting the detaining state's obligations under international human rights law.
You asked about three cases:
- The UK government continues to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. We have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access.
- We remain committed to pushing the Government of India for faster progress to resolve Jagtar Singh Johal's case. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal's case this week (24 July) during a bilateral meeting with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, during his first official visit to India as Foreign Secretary.
- We call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release British national Jimmy Lai.
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