Written question asked by Stephen Twigg (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 July 2000. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Thursday, 20 July 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage religious tolerance in Iran.

Answer: Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage religious tolerance in Iran. [130771] Mr. Hain: Human Rights are a high priority in our dealings with the Iranian Government. We and our EU partners take every appropriate opportunity to press the Iranian authorities over our concerns about their treatment of religious minorities in Iran, particularly the Bahai and Jewish communities. The Iranian authorities are well aware that we and our EU partners view persecution on religious grounds as totally unacceptable.

Secondary information