Question
Asked By
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the Government of Iran concerning human rights.
My Lords, we made over 40 representations and statements in 2008, bilaterally and through the EU. The most recent representation took place on 31 December, when the French, acting as presidency of the EU, summoned the Iranian ambassador in Paris to convey our serious concern about the recent treatment of Dr Shirin Ebadi. Other recent EU declarations have focused on reports of mass executions, stonings, the persecution of human rights defenders and other key human rights concerns.
My Lords, I thank the Minister for the continuing pressure that the Government are putting on the mullahs over their continuing human rights abuses, and particularly for the work that was done at the United Nations on the report of the Commission on Human Rights at the back end of last year. Is he aware that 1,000 people, including children, have been hanged since August 2005 and 44 in the past month alone? Brutal punishments also include stonings to death, limb amputation without anaesthetics and eye-gouging. Is it not time that the UN added sanctions on these human rights issues to those already in place over other matters?
My Lords, my noble friend catalogues all too grimly and accurately the horrific human rights situation in the country. Iran executes the second highest number of people in the world— 320 last year. It executed kids—minors—and, despite an apparent ban in 2007, stonings appear to have resumed recently. We are aware of the difficulties that we all have in finding a coherent way of dealing with Iran—the previous Question addressed that in some ways—but there is no doubt that human rights must be part of our dialogue.
My Lords, I assure the Minister that there is very great interest in both Houses of Parliament on this matter and very strong support for what the noble Lord, Lord Corbett, said. Will he consider following the example of the French ambassador and call in our representative from Iran to talk to him about the widespread concern on this matter?
My Lords, I will certainly make sure that our envoy is fully aware of the concerns of this House and the other place. On the recent visit here of the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, my colleague Bill Rammell raised these very issues. We made sure that Iran is in no doubt about the concerns of all of us.
My Lords, perhaps I may express my dismay at the treatment of Shirin Ebadi and the catalogue of human rights violations that my noble friend Lord Corbett listed. However, does the Minister agree that it is better to ensure that we continue the dialogue? Does he believe that the new incumbent President Obama will make some difference to the dialogue that may take place in the near future?
My Lords, my noble friend touches on a real truth, which is that the dialogue with Iran has been reduced to this vital issue of nuclear weapons and that Iran is quite dismissive of our efforts to raise other issues. We need to arrive at a point where the dialogue covers a broader number of subjects and from which we can engage with Iran effectively on these appalling atrocities.
My Lords, does the Minister agree that, 30 years since the Iranian revolution, we in the West have tried all sorts—demarches, engagement and disengagemen—and have put just about everything on the table? Rather than using megaphone diplomacy, particularly at this time of flux in Iran, which is due to the forthcoming elections, does he agree that sometimes the sotto voce approach would perhaps gain more? I can only endorse the view—does he agree?—that dialogue is the way forward and that we should use other, more subtle means, rather than backing Iranian forces that are based outside that country: those here in the UK and in the US.
My Lords, I thought that the noble Baroness was subtle until the last part of her question. Many human rights defenders in Iran ask us to support them when they get into trouble, but not to pre-emptively speak up for them before that, because that, although it does not literally become a kiss of death, nevertheless means that they become targeted, risk imprisonment and so on.
My Lords, as regards a coherent way of dealing with Iran in the coming phase of international affairs, is it not right to say that although we will probably have to engage with this revolting regime on various crucial strategic matters, we should never for a moment forget the kind of list that the noble Lord, Lord Corbett, reminded us of, which by all standards—even mediaeval standards—is fairly disgusting? We should use every opportunity, while we have to engage and discuss nuclear issues and other things, to remind Iran and the world that these are completely unacceptable standards and that this regime will make itself a pariah of the world, until and unless it improves its human rights record in this area.
My Lords, I think that the noble Lord is correct. That is why engaging the regime on an array of issues that go broader than just the nuclear is not, as some have feared, a strategy of appeasement but a recognition that this regime, in many facets of its behaviour, exhibits at its core that it is an authoritarian regime which brooks no criticism and seeks a military power in order for it to dominate its region. We have to put all these issues on the table and deal with it in a tough and realistic but pragmatic way.
My Lords, historically, Persia/Iran has a proud record in the field of education and tolerance, even from the time of Cyrus, yet we know that the Baha’i community is prevented from attending universities and, now, apparently even from attending schools. That is contrary to the obligations incurred by the Islamic republic under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, indeed, under Article 33 of the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights. Whether it be sotto voce or through the United Nations agencies, what are we doing to remind Iran of its international obligations in respect of the Baha’i?
My Lords, I assure my noble friend that we and the EU have raised these matters regarding the Baha’i, as well as others. We are very concerned about the seven Baha’i leaders currently under arrest—a matter that has already been raised in this House. No one in Iran can be left in any doubt about our concern for these individuals and about the persecution of their religion.