§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the response of the United Kingdom and the EU to the report of the UN rapporteur on religious intolerance, Mr. Abdel Fattah Amor, on the execution of Protestant leaders in Iran; what has been the outcome to this response; and if he will make a statement. [27856]
§ Mr. HanleyWe welcome Mr. Amor's report. Our views on the trial of those accused of killing the three Christian pastors in Iran were set out in my reply of 4 December 1995. In the light of Mr. Amor's report and the reports of the UN special rapporteur, Mr. Hussain, and the UN special representative, Mr. Copithorne, the European Union co-sponsored a resolution critical of Iran at the UN Commission on Human Rights. The resolution, adopted on 24 April 1996, expressed concern at Iran's failure to meet international standards on the administration of justice and the lack of adequate protection for Christian minorities. We will continue to maintain pressure on Iran to do more to protect the rights of religious minorities.