Written question asked by Gareth Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 22 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 March 2001. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Thursday, 29 March 2001 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 representations he has made to the Government of Iran regarding the eligibility of members of the Christian, B'hai and Jewish faiths holding senior national positions in that country.

Answer: Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran regarding the eligibility of members of the Christian, Bahai and Jewish faiths holding senior national positions in that country. [155760] Mr. Wilson: We and our EU partners regularly raise concerns over human rights issues in Iran, particularly those affecting religious minorities. The Iranian authorities are fully aware that we and our EU partners consider discrimination on religious grounds to be intolerable. Christians and Jews (but not Bahais) have their own representatives in the Majles.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 155760; 365 c743-4W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Baha'i faith Human rights Jews Racial discrimination Religious freedom Iran Christianity
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk