Written question asked by Cheryl Gillan (Conservative) on Friday, 26 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 December 2004. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 December 2004 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 about the death of the Bahá'i Mr Mir Naqi Kamali.

Answer: Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran about the death of the Baha«'i Mr. Mir Naqi Kamali. [200928] Mr. Rammell: We have received reports from Baha'i representatives in the UK about the circumstances of Mr. Kamali's death and other examples of discrimination against Baha'is in Iran. We have not raised the specific case of Mr. Kamali with the Iranian authorities, but have on many occasions raised our serious concerns about the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran. With our strong support, the EU presidency called on the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 November to express the EU's concern at demolition of Baha'i holy sites and discrimination against Baha'is for instance in access to education. The rights of Iran's religious minorities including the Baha'is has been an important theme of the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue, including the most recent round in June.

Secondary information