Written question asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 19 December 2011.

Iran

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran regarding the persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran.

Answer: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet representatives from the Baha'i community in the UK to discuss the continuing repression of the Baha'i minority in Iran. This includes the harassment and intimidation of Baha'i educators and of Baha'is attending religious festivals and the ongoing incarceration of the seven spiritual leaders of the Baha' is in Iran. The increasing intimidation of Baha'is is a disturbing trend which must be reversed. We have regularly raised our concerns with the Iranian authorities, for example when Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), met the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires in August this year. Following the storming of our embassy in Tehran on 29 November, the UK has downgraded diplomatic relations with Iran. However, we will continue to press publicly for the Iranian Government to accord all Iranian citizens the right to freedom of religion. With our European Union partners, the UK has taken co-ordinated action to address Iran's human rights record, imposing travel bans and asset freezes on over 60 Iranians responsible for human rights violations, including government Ministers and members of the judiciary.

Secondary information