Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 April 2014
43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which prisoners held by the various opposing factions in the Middle East are afforded the principle of international human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15890/14]
View answerIn the wide region of the Middle East, prisoners are held under a great variety of circumstances, by states, by de facto authorities such as Hamas in Gaza, or by armed groups such as those in Syria or parts of Iraq. The degree to which these prisoners are afforded or denied internationally recognised standards of human rights differs greatly in accordance with these circumstances, but, in general, Ireland would have concerns about the human rights of prisoners in many or indeed most countries across the Middle East region. These could include access to due process, use of torture or duress to obtain convictions, sentences applied including the death penalty, and conditions of detention.
Some states approach more nearly than others to what we would consider recognised standards. Ireland addresses these problems as a key element in our overall approach to human rights in the region, which is of course a central element in our dealings with all states. Given the nature and scale of the problem, and the resources available to us in the region, we try where possible to work in concert with our EU partners, and to address overall issues rather than specific cases, but we also raise our concerns bilaterally with the governments concerned, including on occasion in relation to specific cases.
