Razouk Choummad

Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask HM Ambassador in Rabat to investigate the detention on 1 September 2009 of Mr. Razouk Choummad.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
Our ambassador to Morocco and his staff at our embassy in Rabat have already sought clarification from the Moroccan Government regarding Mr. Razouk Choummad and the other Sahrawi students due to take part in an event in Oxford in August this year.

The Government made clear to the Moroccan authorities that they regretted that the students had been prevented from travelling to the UK and that they were concerned by allegations of the disproportionate use of force.

The Moroccan Government have told us that they remain open to participating in future events organised by Talk Together and have investigated the allegations of mistreatment, which they deny. We will continue to seek further clarification from the Moroccan authorities.