CODE 18-77
RECE
D:
INDE
нко asli
05 APR 1993
Mr Richmond, NENAD
Mr Harrison, MED Mr Holmes, SAD
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Mr Rick 2413
Mr 24/3 Mas Barnes Jones o...
Reference.
pa human nights
Ref:
1/4
nhi
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I have made clear to Consular dight (re-future workload in the HMCE) that our policy on dual nationals does not predude that we may wish to make representations in
on behalf of BNOS in HK + China after 1997. This extends that possibility to
MPS LETTERS: PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
non-British nationals.
+ pa.
ch23/9
1. I am most grateful to Mr Richmond for drawing HRPU's attention to the inconsistent line departments have been tat on the persecution of Christians in Islamic countries (his minute of 16 March, not to all).
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2. It is important that the FCO should be seen to be takin'! " positive and consistent approach to the promotion of human rights worldwide. Any real or apparent inconsistency would damaging to our image domestically and to the potential suc***** of our representations abroad.
3. I am therefore particularly disturbed by the line MED proposed on Mr Cornelius in Saudi Arabia. The argument tha HMG has no standing to intervene in cases where non-British nationals are involved is not correct and should not be usel, certainly without prior reference to HRPU. This is explici stated in the Guidelines on Human Rights in Foreign Policy issued to all Departments and Posts in April 1992. The Guidelines were drawn up precisely because of the need for " consistent approach in the Office to human rights questions, and set out quite clearly HMG's standing to raise human rig!!!* (eg paras 12-15). We have often raised the cases of indivi foreign nationals with other governments and consider that w" have every right to make enquiries if we have grounds for suspecting that the individual's rights have been violated. Indeed, as MED are aware, we recently made representations " Iran about two Baha'is under sentence of death.
4. The Guidelines are designed to be of practical assistan""" to Departments and Posts in dealing with human rights issues, and do not attempt to provide standard lines to take on every subject. Departments should therefore always bear in mind """ need to clear all human rights-related correspondence, especially MPs letters, with HRPU. The question of religio" persecution is particularly sensitive, especially with Isla countries. But we should not shy away from pointing out thi governments have an international obligation to protect hum rights even if they have not adhered to the relevant treatin (as in the case of Saudi Arabia), and/or their domestic law permit discrimination on religious grounds (eg Pakistan).
5. As members of the UN, such countries have an obligation under the UN Charter to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex language, or religion".
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