Written question asked by Lord Turnberg (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 May 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 May 2020. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2020 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on 22 April, condemning the execution of two prisoners under the age of 18 by the Iranian authorities.

Answer: We are deeply concerned by the reports of the executions of these two juvenile offenders. In her statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated these executions are prohibited under international human rights law and has violated the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran had signed up to. It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

Secondary information