Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Fourth Report


5  Treatment of British Nationals imprisoned abroad

107. In our last Human Rights Report we commented on the detentions of Westerners in Saudi Arabia, and concluded that "the Government's judgment in cases involving British nationals overseas is open to serious question". We went on to recommend that

    the Government make clear that actions such as the torture of British nationals by the Saudi authorities—or by any other country—are unacceptable. We further recommend the threat of retaliatory actions, preferably in concert with our European Union allies, if such abuses occur in the future.[136]

108. In response to this recommendation, the Government replied that

    The welfare of UK nationals abroad is of paramount concern. We take all allegations of torture or ill-treatment seriously and would, as appropriate, raise our concerns with the relevant authorities. We may also request that a prompt, impartial investigation be carried out into the allegations. All representations are made at the appropriate level according to the circumstances of the case.[137]

We were, therefore, surprised that, when we questioned the Minister this year, and followed up our questions in writing, it appeared that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had not asked the Saudi authorities to investigate the allegations of mistreatment of British detainees, at the time of those detentions.[138] The Minister did, however, explain that "the focus of our efforts was to secure the release of the detainees…and…we expended enormous diplomatic efforts in that regard at the highest level within government to the lowest level within government".[139]

109. We also described the detentions in Egypt of three British nationals, Ian Nisbet, Reza Pankhurst, and Maajid Nawaz, who have been given sentences of varying lengths for allegedly having links to an Islamic organisation banned in Egypt. Twenty-three Egyptians were imprisoned alongside the Britons. Bill Rammell advised us that the Government had requested a full investigation into the allegations against the men, which had not yet been granted.[140]

110. These cases raise a more general concern about how the Government deals with the detention and possible abuse of British nationals by foreign governments. Amnesty told us "there are times when probably Amnesty would be arguing for a more public approach to some of these issues at a stage earlier than the UK Government might be comfortable with".[141]

111. Bill Rammell advised us that, when attempting to secure the release of nationals from detention, there are very delicate judgements to be made about the best approach, but that "we take these cases seriously and consider any mistreatment of British detainees wholly unacceptable". On the specific measures taken, he advised us that the Government makes requests of foreign governments for investigations into allegations of mistreatment where appropriate, but that "we have no control over the quality of these investigations, and often the authorities in the country concerned will automatically deny any wrongdoing". As for the use of sanctions to bring pressure to bear on such cases, the UK "has not used targeted sanctions on the basis of the mistreatment of its nationals" as such arguments "are unlikely to have the sufficient force in multilateral institutions to create a sanctions regime". [142]

112. We conclude that the Government should ensure that it is understood by other governments that the mistreatment of British nationals is unacceptable and will be met with appropriate actions.


136   Foreign Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 2003-04, Human Rights Annual Report 2003, HC 389, para 166 Back

137   Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Fourth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee Session 2003-04 Annual Report on Human Rights 2003: Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Cm 6275, July 2004, p 26 Back

138   Q 130, Ev 73 Back

139   Q 130 Back

140   Qq 125--127 Back

141   Q 51 Back

142   Ev 74 Back


 
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Prepared 26 March 2005