Government pressed not to relax on Taliban while women and minorities are discriminated against, persecuted and face genocidal attacks.

Jan 11, 2023 | News

Pressed the Government today not to relax things like travel restrictions on Taliban while women are denied a university education and while minorities like the persecuted Hazara continue to face genocidal attacks.

11th January 2022


Lord Alton of Liverpool
(CB)

My Lords, will the Minister tell the House whether it is the Government’s intention to continue to support restrictions on travel waivers from the United Nations for members of the Taliban while these reprehensible measures restricting women from receiving university education continue to be in place? Can he also say what he has done about the report sent to his department concerning the Hazara minority in Afghanistan and about reports that some of the members of that community are facing crimes against humanity and even genocide?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
(Con)

My Lords, as I said in response to another question, we are routinely engaging with partners around the world to try to inhibit the worst excesses of the Taliban. We engage directly with the Taliban but that is not the same as recognising them—the distinction is important. As regards specific minorities within Afghanistan who are feeling the sharp end of Taliban oppression, I will need to ask my colleague, my noble friend Lord Ahmad, to report back to the noble Lord.

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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