Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 9 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 June 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 June 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Iranian Repatriation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's current policy on the repatriation of Iranian nationals who are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom is.

Answer: Asylum and human rights claims by Iranian nationals are, like those of all claimants, from all countries, considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If the claimant meets the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.

Secondary information