Written question asked by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 21 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2008. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 6 October 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran: Detainees

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Iran urging the release of six members of the Bahá'í community arrested in that country on 14 May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We remain very concerned about the overall treatment of Iran's Baha'i community and, in particular, the continued detention without charge of seven members of their informal leadership since May. We have consistently voiced our concern about this and urged the Iranian government to release them unconditionally. Following a UK recommendation, the EU issued a public statement on 21 May expressing serious concern at the discrimination and harassment of Baha'is in Iran and calling for the release of the Baha'i leaders. In statements to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 6 June and 16 September, the UK once again called on Iran to release the detained Baha'is. Most recently, and again with strong UK support, the EU issued a further public declaration on 26 September about the increasing pressure on people belonging to religious minorities in Iran in recent months. This declaration set out that the EU was"'deeply disturbed'"by the arrests of members of the Baha'i community and called for their"'immediate and unconditional release'."We will continue to press Iran to fully uphold the right to freedom of religion and to end the persecution of Baha'is in Iran.

Secondary information