Written question asked by Andrew Dismore (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 January 2001. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 January 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, when he last raised with the Iranian Government the position of the Jews imprisoned in Iran; and if he will make a statement. (Holding answer 8 January 2001).

Answer: Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised with the Iranian Government the position of the Jews imprisoned in Iran; and if he will make a statement. [144369] Mr. Hain: [holding answer 8 January 2001]: We and our European partners have taken every opportunity to raise our concerns about the unsatisfactory nature of the case, which I last raised with the Iranian ambassador when I met him on 19 October. While noting the reductions in the sentence of between two and six years on appeal, we hope that the Iranian judiciary will now show clemency. The EU sponsored the 4 December General Assembly Resolution expressing concern about discrimination against people who belong to religious minorities and Iranian failure to comply with the international standards on the administration of justice.

Secondary information