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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the rights of the Baha«'–« community in Iran to conduct social, educational and collective religious activities; and if he will make a statement. [199103] Mr. Rammell: We continue to have serious concerns about the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran. We are monitoring the situation, and are in close contact with Baha'i representatives in the UK. They report that their co-religionists face increasing discrimination, including arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of free worship, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the closure of institutes of higher learning, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of employment, pensions and other benefits. Our EU partners and we have raised our concerns with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, and have urged them to respect and protect the human rights of Iran's religious minorities. Along with all other EU partners, we have co-sponsored a Canadian draft UN General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran, including the rights of members of the Baha'i community.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

199103; 426 c1777-8W;426 c1781-2W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Baha'i faith Collective worship Education Human rights Religious freedom Iran

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk