UK Plans to Appoint Special Envoy to Rescue Citizens Detained Abroad, Following US Model | WPN World People News

In response to growing calls to better protect British citizens arbitrarily detained abroad, the UK is considering following the U.S. model by appointing a special envoy to handle complex consular detention cases. The Foreign Office emphasized that it will continue to pressure foreign governments and strengthen support for British nationals.

High-profile international cases, such as Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah and Hong Kong media figure Jimmy Lai, have highlighted the difficulties faced by Britons imprisoned overseas. Human rights groups and families of detainees have criticized the UK government for a lack of efficiency and transparency, urging immediate action.

While the UK has yet to announce the specific responsibilities of the proposed envoy, the role is expected to resemble the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs established in 2015. However, unlike the U.S., the UK does not engage in prisoner exchanges. Professor Carla Ferstman, an expert on arbitrary detention at the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, said the appointment of a special envoy is "the most obvious thing the UK could do but hasn’t done yet."