Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 62
62
Regardless of international comparisons, Charlie Loudon noted that “[a]vailable evidence gives a clear indication that...
Conclusion
Regardless of international comparisons, Charlie Loudon noted that “[a]vailable evidence gives a clear indication that the UK’s method has not worked so far, and that the UK needs to rethink its approach and work with other countries to better address Iranian hostage taking”.143 The sentiment was shared by Dr Vakil who stated that the UK “should be more proactive and find opportunities to negotiate with Iran specifically delinking the issue of dual nationals from other security challenges”.144 As a specific remedy, Tulip Siddiq MP suggested that These problems are all the more likely at a time when authoritarianism is on the rise around the world and international law is increasingly being 138 Britain denies £400 million debt to Iran linked to bid to free jailed aid worker, Reuters, Guy Faulconbridge, Paul Sandle, 16 November 2017 139 Q23 [Charlie Loudon] 140 Q23 [Charlie Loudon] 141 Q23 [Dr Sanam Vakil] 142 Q23 [Dr Anicée Van Engeland] 143 Q23 [Charlie Loudon] 144 Q23 [Dr Sanam Vakil] 24 No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationship with Iran challenged […] HMG should be using its role on the world stage to forcefully call-out state hostage-taking and push for international agreements to curtail it.145
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We note the Committee’s recommendation. We do not accept dual British nationals being used as diplomatic leverage. In any individual case, the Government would look at all the circumstances concerned, including consideration of the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages 1979. Meanwhile, we continue to use UN and international fora to call out such behaviour. At the last Human Rights Council session, the UK joined other countries in a statement highlighting our shared concern about the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals and calling on all states to uphold their international human rights obligations. We will continue to discuss with likeminded countries how best we can raise cases of arbitrary detention, to reinforce our concerns and impact.