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385739

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the steps taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat exclusionary and intolerant interpretations of religious texts by religious clerics.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2015 answer text <p>The Saudi Arabian government, from His Royal Highness King Salman down, continue to challenge exclusionary and intolerant interpretations of religious texts by religious clerics, as does the religious establishment. During his accession speech King Salman called for tolerance amongst religions, and during his recent speech marking the start of Ramadan he reaffirmed that he was firmly against any kind of sectarian classification or divisions among the different schools of Islam. The Saudi Arabian authorities have a programme to ensure that text books no longer contain material that could be considered hateful or inciteful. We will continue to support dialogue and opportunities for reform. However, freedom of religion or belief is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. Public expression of any religion other than Islam is forbidden and non-Muslims are not permitted to worship openly or establish places of worship in Saudi Arabia, although private worship is permitted.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 08/07/2015 13:23:59 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

348869

registered interest
date	08/06/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Saudi Arabia concerning the funding of extremist jihadi movements, such as ISIS, and its steps to propagate Wahhabism outside Saudi Arabia.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2015 answer text The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and his Saudi Arabian counterpart both attended the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Coalition Small Group Ministerial meeting in Paris on 2 June. In addition to the plenary meeting, the Foreign Secretary discussed ISIL with Ministers from across the Gulf Cooperation Council, including a separate bilateral meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir. With ISIL on its doorstep in Iraq and Syria, and following the attacks on 22 and 29 May at two mosques in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom is a key part of international efforts to defeat ISIL. The King and the religious establishment continue to condemn ISIL clearly and publicly, and emphasise that they do not in any way represent the teachings of the Islamic faith. The Saudi Arabian government is working to reduce the threat that religious extremists pose in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and has a comprehensive set of laws in place to prevent terrorist financing, which it enforces vigorously. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 17/06/2015 14:15:50 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

224922

registered interest
date	03/03/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi, may now face execution by beheading for his decision to renounce his religion.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5366
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2015 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised Badawi’s case with the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Naif when they met on 24 February 2015. The Deputy Crown Prince confirmed that Badawi’s case had been referred to the Saudi courts for further consideration. We will continue to monitor Mr Badawi’s case closely and await its outcome. <br><br>The UK has repeatedly made clear that it opposes the death penalty around the world because we believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team in Riyadh frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/03/2015 14:44:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224298

registered interest
date	02/03/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia following the decision of a Saudi Arabian court to sentence a man to death for renouncing his Muslim faith; and whether they consider such sentences to be compatible with Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it relates to freedom of religion and belief.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5320
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is a matter of public record that the British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief, which is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. We believe, as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and that this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief. Any action to punish an individual for their faith or belief is not compatible with Article 18.</p><p>The UK has repeatedly made clear that it opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances because we believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador, and our Embassy team in Riyadh frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the EU.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 16/03/2015 17:41:15 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

177160

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2015, Official Report, column 79, whether he met the Saudi Arabia Deputy Foreign Minister; and with whom he has discussed the case of Raif Badawi.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mr Douglas Alexander
uin	222907
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>Due to the late King’s ill health at the time, the <del class="ministerial">Deputy</del> <ins class="ministerial">Vice</ins> Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not attend the Counter ISIL meeting in London as had been planned. Instead, I raised the case of Raif Badawi with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to London, as the most senior member of the Saudi delegation, at the inaugural meeting of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, on 22 January.</p> answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond question first answered 05/02/2015 11:13:30 question first ministerially corrected 05/02/2015 13:43:29 answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede previous answer version 43055 answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede
tabling member	632 label Biography information for Mr Douglas Alexander

176913

registered interest
date	30/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to seek lifting the travel ban on Samar Badawi, the wife of Saudi activist Waleed Abulkhair.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	222796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>We maintain a regular dialogue with the Saudi authorities on a range of human rights issues. While our Embassy officials in Riyadh have had some contact with human rights defenders, it is often the view of defenders that involvement with foreign representatives and organisations can make their work harder.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 05/02/2015 14:19:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

176914

registered interest
date	30/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	222797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>The British Government’s position on human rights is a matter of public record. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) country of concern because of the human rights situation in the country, particularly the use of the death penalty, access to justice, women’s rights, restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. The UK condemns the use of torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. We regularly make our views known including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the FCO’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Saudi Arabian authorities on a range of human rights issues.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 05/02/2015 14:19:49 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

176915

registered interest
date	30/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the government of Saudi Arabia in support of the release of Waleed Abulkhair from prison in that country.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	222806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>We are aware of the case of Walid abu Al-Khair and follow it closely. We will continue to maintain a regular dialogue with the Saudi authorities on a range of human rights issues, including of human rights defenders. While our Embassy officials in Riyadh have had some contact with human rights defenders, it is often the view of defenders that involvement with foreign representatives and organisations can make their task of pressing for reform harder.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 05/02/2015 14:22:30 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

176089

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to secure the release of Raif Badawi.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Huppert
uin	222150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>We are seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances. We have raised the case at a senior level with the Saudi authorities, most recently the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised the matter with the Saudi Ambassador to London.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 02/02/2015 15:25:08 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	3931 label Biography information for Dr Julian Huppert

175090

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote fundamental freedoms in Saudi Arabia and to dissuade the government of that country from misusing anti-terrorism laws.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	221519
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>The British Government’s position on human rights in Saudi Arabia is a matter of public record. We regularly make our views known including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. We also raise our human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities at the highest level.</p><p>We have been following the new counter-terrorism and terrorism financing legislation closely since its inception and have noted that a number of human rights activists have been sentenced in the Specialised Criminal Court, which is a court designed for security and terrorism cases. We have not yet seen evidence that it is being used routinely to target individuals engaging in civil and political debate. We continue to monitor the situation.</p><p>Saudi Arabia is a key partner in our global counter terrorism efforts, particularly within the region. Saudi Arabia has many years of experience in countering radicalisation and extremism. Continued close co-operation between the UK and Saudi Arabia will remain part of work to protect both UK and Saudi Arabian interests from the threat of terrorism.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 28/01/2015 14:25:06 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn