Ribal Al-Assad welcomes UK Government's commitment to human rights case in Syria

Lord Howell (Image: FCO's photostream)

On the 9th of November, Conservative Peer, Lord Patten asked a question in the House of Lords about the human rights case of Syrian novelist Ms Raghdah Hassan, who has been detained by the Syrian regime.

The following is from Hansard:

Syria

Question

Asked by Lord Patten

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 27 September (WA 556), whether the United Kingdom Embassy in Damascus has yet received the information requested on 8 September concerning the whereabouts and welfare of Ms Hassan. [HL3230]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Our ambassador in Damascus raised the case of Ms Hassan during a call at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 October. He handed over a copy of the Amnesty International case report and stressed the need for Syria to meet its responsibilities under the UN treaties on human rights.

We will continue to underline our wider concerns about the human rights situation in Syria through our dialogue with the Government.

Commenting on Lord Howell's statement, ODFS Director Ribal Al-Assad said:

"I welcome Lord Howell's statement and the UK Government's commitment to Ms Hassan's case and to human rights in Syria. I call on the Syrian regime to release Ms Hassan and all other political prisoners immediately. I urge the regime to end its practice of arbitrary arrests and detention, and to allow freedom of expression and association. This will help Syria move towards genuine democracy and freedom in a peaceful and transitional way.”