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 recent reports he has received concerning religious liberty in Iran.

Answer: Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning religious liberty in Iran. [130792] Mr. Hain: We receive reports from a number of sources on a wide range of human rights issues in Iran including religious liberty. These sources include among others our Embassy in Tehran, the UK and Iranian media, Amnesty International and the United Nations Commission of Human Rights Special Representative's annual reports. Most of these sources recognise that there have been a number of improvements in Iran since the election of President Khatami in 1997, but that a number of concerns remain. Our policy of engagement allows us to raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities.

Secondary information