The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG)’s Chair, Ann Clwyd MP, chaired this four day meeting in Geneva to review the cases of human rights abuses against Parliamentarians from around the world.

More generally, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is composed of fellow Parliamentarians from around the world and examines individual cases deemed admissible which involve alleged human rights violations and abuses of Members of national Parliaments. Those alleged abuses can include assassination, torture, threats, arbitrary arrest and detention, lack of fair trial, violation of freedom of expression or the unlawful suspension or loss of Parliamentary mandates.  The Committee is the only mechanism dedicated to the protection of the human rights of Members of Parliament.

At this session, the Committee examined 49 cases concerning the situation of 115 Members of Parliament in 19 countries.

In her report to the IPU Governing Council on 21 October about the Committee’s work during that Assembly, Ann Clwyd MP raised some of the cases examined, including that of Anwar Ibrahim, former leader of the opposition in Malaysia, who was sentenced this year for a second time, on a charge of sodomy.

“Upon close examination, the Committee believes that, in light of the many procedural irregularities and the serious concerns about the credibility of the evidence, Mr. Anwar Ibrahim should have been acquitted. We strongly hope, therefore, that the efforts to obtain a judicial review of his conviction or a pardon will be successful. In the meantime, the Committee calls on the authorities to do everything possible to ensure that Mr. Anwar Ibrahim receives the necessary treatment from a doctor of his own choice in connection with on-going medical problems.”

Ann Clwyd MP also highlighted two “extremely serious” cases in Iraq. Firstly, she discussed the case of Mr. Al-Dainy, who has been sentenced to death for documenting and denouncing the use of torture by the security forces:

“The Committee was recently informed that Mr. Al-Dainy voluntarily returned to Iraq a few months ago and surrendered himself to the Iraqi authorities for a retrial. We are pleased to inform you today that the retrial took place and that Mr. Al-Dainy was finally proven innocent. The Committee was, however, shocked to learn that Mr. Al-Dainy continues to be kept in detention, despite his acquittal and calls for his immediate release. We would like to appeal for parliamentary solidarity and we call on you to make urgent representations to the Iraqi authorities to secure his release.

She also expressed serious concern about the case of Mr Ahmed Al-Alwani who has been sentenced to death for terrorism offences and has allegedly been tortured:

“The Committee calls on the judicial authorities to lift Mr. Al-Alwani’s death sentence and hopes that appeal proceedings will take place promptly and in a manner that respects Mr. Al-Alwani’s right to a fair trial. We also call on the authorities to investigate the allegations of torture and mistreatment without delay, and to provide Mr. Al-Alwani with urgent medical care.”

“Given the seriousness of these concerns, the Committee has called for a mission to be undertaken to Iraq to obtain first-hand information on the current situation of these parliamentarians.”

The IPU adopted decisions on these cases, as well as others involving MPs in Africa (Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Niger), South America (Colombia and Venezuela), Asia (Bangladesh, Mongolia and Sri Lanka), the Middle East (Palestine/Israel) and Europe (Russia).

All the decisions adopted at this IPU Assembly on cases being examined by the Committee can be accessed here.

For more information on the Committee’s work, please visit their website.