Transnational repression: Chloe Cheung and Hossein Abedini evidence sets out risks faced by activists in UK

• Recording of session: Parliamentlive.tv - Human Rights (Joint Committee)
• Inquiry page: Transnational repression in the UK

The committee heard from pro-democracy activist, Chloe Cheung and Deputy Director of the National Council of Resistance in Iran, Hossein Abedini.

Chloe Cheung campaigns for democracy in Hong Kong, she left to come to the UK at the age of 15 following political reforms and the crackdown on protests. She revealed that she had received online abuse and threats, and had letters sent to neighbours asking for information about her. The Hong Kong authorities have placed a HK$1 million bounty on her, raising fears that she could be kidnapped.

She called for more support from police and the UK Government, to deal with the substantial risk of harm activists faced. Police and security services needed better mechanisms to deal with the specific risks faced by activists. She also included the expulsion of consular officials implicated in cases of transnational repression in the UK.

Hossein Abedini, is deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. He explained how activists are pressurised by threats to their families who remain in Iran. He warned that ‘cultural centres’ are used to operate spying networks that target UK-based dissidents. Asked what the UK’s response should be to these threats, he called for stronger action, including proscribing the IRGC as perpetrators of transnational repression.

The committee also took evidence from barristers Rhys Davies and Ben Keith, who have represented clients in cases before Interpol. They outlined how Interpol ‘red notices’ designed to be used as arrest warrants for criminal activity are abused by hostile regimes to target dissidents. They called for greater scrutiny of how red notices were used and improved mechanisms to allow for notices to be challenged.

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Chloe Cheung, Pro-democracy activist
• Hossein Abedini, Deputy director, National Council of Resistance of Iran

Panel 2

• Rhys Davies, Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers
• Ben Keith, Barrister, 5 St Andrews Hill

Chair's comments

Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Lord Alton said:

“The Joint Committee on Human Rights is truly thankful to the witnesses it heard from today. Their bravery and resilience in the face of such hostility is commendable. 

“It is deeply concerning to hear about the serious threats faced by activists in the UK from hostile actions by foreign governments. We should be proud of our tradition as a place of sanctuary from those at risk of political persecution, but that is under serious risk. 

“We need to look closely at whether enough is being done to ensure that voices are not being silenced, or worse that their very safety is at risk.” 

Image: House of Commons