Written question asked by Win Griffiths (Labour) on Thursday, 15 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 July 2004. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 July 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 issues were raised at the recent EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue meeting; and what assessment has been made of the progress being made by Iran on these issues.

Answer: Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues were raised at the recent EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue meeting; and what assessment has been made of the progress being made by Iran on these issues. [185437] Mr. Rammell: Discussions at the fourth meeting of the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue, held in Tehran on 14-16 June, covered a range of human rights issues in Iran. The EU delegation raised particular concerns about Iran's judicial and penal systems, the situation of religious and ethnic minorities, freedom of expression and assembly, discrimination against women and the conduct of this year's Majlis elections. The EU also raised the cases of a number of individuals in Iran. We are deeply disappointed that on many issues of concern there has been little or no progress in recent months.

Secondary information