Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 November 1996. It was answered by Jeremy Hanley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 November 1996 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: What action Her Majesty's Government is taking to urge the government of Iran to allow independent human rights monitors to visit that country to investigate the deaths of the Rev. Mohammad Bagher Yusefi, the Rev. Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the Rev. Tateos Michaelian and the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj.

Answer: Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to urge the Government of Iran to allow independent human rights monitors to visit that country to investigate the deaths of the Rev. Mohammad Bagher Yusefi, the Rev. Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the Rev. Tateos Michaelian and the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj; and if he will make a statement. [5725] Mr. Hanley: We have protested about the deaths of the Rev. Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the Rev. Tateos Michaelin and the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj. Through the EU, we pressed for thorough and impartial investigations into their deaths and, as a result, a public trial was subsequently held in 1995. We were concerned about certain aspects of the trial, but a public trial in Iran was, nonetheless, a welcome development in itself. We were also deeply disturbed by the death of the Rev. Mohammad Bagher Yusefi and we have raised his case with our EU partners for further action. We fully support the involvement of UN special rapporteurs in Iran.

Secondary information