Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Paragraph: 55
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state...
Recommendation
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state detentions and state hostage taking is a false one, other than in the initial phases. Silence abets state hostage taking. We recommend the Government uses the strongest possible language to call out situations of state hostage taking as soon as it becomes clear detentions are being used for leverage.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and says it already seeks to support families who wish to proceed publicly, assessing options on a case-by-case basis and offering advice while respecting the family's decision.
Paragraph Reference:
55
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
41. The Government agrees with this recommendation and already seeks to support and advise any family that wishes to proceed publicly with a case. The Government assesses options and levers on a case-by-case basis. Where we see that there may be risk in making a case public, we will share that assessment with the family so that they can take it into account as they decide how to proceed, but it is not the case that we always judge there are risks in taking a public approach to a detention case. We recognise that the decision to make a case public, and whether and how to campaign, is ultimately one for families themselves to take if they perceive that to be the best route for them. We would not seek to stop them, nor would it change our support to them, although it may on occasion limit the detail of information, not in the public domain, that the FCDO is able to share. We treat all cases of those detained in Iran with the utmost seriousness as reflects the risk to those detained, and with equal effort irrespective of public awareness. The FCDO media office can provide some advice to the families of those detained on engaging and responding to the media.