§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many hon. Members have written to him concerning the human rights situation in Iran since April 1992; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how Her Majesty's Government have voted in the United Nations General Assembly on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to Iran concerning the abuse of human rights in Iran; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have received 423 letters from hon. Members on the human rights situation in Iran since April 1992.
We remain seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and repeatedly make this clear to the Iranian authorities, both with our European partners and bilaterally. In December 1993 we co-sponsored and voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that reflected the critical report of the United Nations special representative on human rights in Iran.
Most recently we gave our full support to representa-tions made by the European Union on behalf of the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj and two members of the Baha'i faith, all of 145W whom were reportedly sentenced to death in Iran for their religious beliefs. We have also raised Dibaj's case with the Iranian embassy in London.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy with respect to Iran.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe restored relations with Iran on 27 September 1990 on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.
We and our European Community partners made clear at the European Council at Edinburgh in December 1992 that improvements in Iran's behaviour in a number of areas, particularly human rights, the fatwa on Mr. Rushdie and terrorism, would be important in determining the extent to which closer relations and confidence in Iran could be developed.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the circumstances of the recent shooting incident near the United Kingdom embassy in Teheran; what co-operation has been received from the Iranian authorities to investigate it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggA number of shots were fired at the offices of the British embassy in Tehran late on 9 January 1994, after office hours. No one was injured. The Iranian authorities are investigating the incident and we are satisfied with their co-operation.