Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Deferred
Paragraph: 92
We recommend that a list is prepared of countries where UK nationals face an increased...
Recommendation
We recommend that a list is prepared of countries where UK nationals face an increased risk of arbitrary detention and being taken hostage. This should inform decisions around the escalation of cases as well as the outward facing travel advice. We recommend that updated FCDO travel advice includes clear criteria, with accompanying explanation, to support an obvious and user-friendly category of “Risk of arbitrary detention”. Moreover, the FCDO should actively brief organisations, businesses and individuals on the risks they face in travelling to these countries and on sensible precautions they can take to mitigate them.
Government Response Summary
The decision to exercise diplomatic protection formally raised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case to a state-to-state level, but it did not assist efforts to secure her release as Iran refused to recognise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s British nationality.
Paragraph Reference:
92
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
33. The decision to exercise diplomatic protection formally raised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case to a state-to-state level. This was implemented in good faith having listened to the wishes of her family, and to the fullest extent possible but did not assist efforts to secure her release as Iran refused to recognise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s British nationality. This was, and is, the reality for those unfairly detained in Iran, or where dual nationality is not recognised or permitted under local laws. Exercising diplomatic protection demonstrated to both Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family and Iran how seriously we treated her detention but gave no additional political or legal tools in helping to secure her release. At all times, the FCDO took decisions in line with what it believed would produce the best outcome for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.