Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 22 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 June 2005. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 June 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Bahá'í community in Iran.

Answer: The Bahá'ís are the largest non-Muslim religious group in Iran yet, unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, are not recognised in Iran's constitution. Members of the Bahá'í community have suffered intimidation and harassment, had property confiscated and been denied access to education and employment, apparently on account of their faith. A number of Bahá'í sites have been demolished, organisers of Bahá'í community activities have reportedly been harassed and the Bahá'í faith has been denigrated in the state-owned media. Many of these acts appear to have been carried out by, or with the support or acquiescence of, the Iranian authorities. We have raised our concerns about the situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, and will continue to do so, bilaterally and with our European Union partners.

Secondary information