Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist). It was answered on Tuesday, 6 September 2016.

Iran: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Question: My Lords, I fully support the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Alton. Will the Minister attempt to put Iran’s ongoing outrages in context? Is she aware of the audiotape released on 9 August this year featuring the late Hoseyn Ali Montazeri addressing the 1988 death committee, when he pleaded in vain opposing the massacre of 30,000 Iranians? Instead of some parliamentary colleagues pandering to the mullahs’ regime through goodwill visits to Tehran, is it not time that our Government gave a lead by pressing at international level prosecutions of those criminals, some of whom are still in power?

Answer: My Lords, I understand that the noble Lord refers to the reports of a 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. It is absolutely the fact that Iran’s human rights record remains a serious concern—it is appalling—in particular in its use of the death penalty. However, the UK Government have little corroborated evidence of the reported massacre to which the noble Lord refers, which the Iranian Government have repeatedly denied took place. We still press the fact in our engagement with Iran that their re-engagement with the international community brings with it responsibilities on human rights.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 774 c936
Session: 2016-17
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Detainees Capital punishment Iran Dual nationality Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Nazanin
Link: View this Oral question on hansard.parliament.uk