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Iran: Baha'i Faith

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009, Official Report, column 45W, on Iran: Baha'i faith, what representations he has made to the Iranian government on the detention of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran since his public statement on 16 February 2009. (279323)

We continue to express our concerns to the Iranian Government regarding the treatment and continued detention of the seven Baha’i leaders.

14 May 2009 marked the one-year anniversary of their arrest and on this date my predecessor as Minister of State, my hon. Friend the member for Harlow (Bill Rammell), issued a press statement in which he urged the Iranian Government to ensure that their lives and rights are protected in accordance with international law.

The EU, with strong UK support, issued a declaration on 25 May 2009 on behalf of all member states, reaffirming our concern for the Baha’i leaders and expressing wider concerns about the increasing violation of religious freedom in Iran.