Written question asked by David Lepper (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 May 2008. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Thursday, 5 June 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran: Prisoners

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on the detention since 5 March of Mrs Mahuash Sabet, an Iranian Baha'i first held in Mashud and subsequently in Evin Prison; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We remain deeply concerned about the treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and the recent arrests of the Baha'i leadership in particular. We have not specifically raised Mrs. Sabet's detention with the Iranian authorities, but we regularly raise our concerns about the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran with the Iranian authorities bilaterally and through the EU. I raised UK concerns about the treatment of the Baha'is in a meeting with the Iranian ambassador on 1 April, and the EU has raised concerns at least four times this year in meetings with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through public declarations. Most recently, on 21 May, the EU issued a public statement urging Iran to respect religious freedoms, to end the persecution of the Baha'is and release the detained Baha'i leaders. We will make representations for the Baha'is situation, including Mrs. Sabet's case, to be included in the next EU human rights démarche.

Secondary information