HL Deb 01 December 1987 vol 490 cc1043-4WA
Lord Molloy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the United Nations and the European Parliament concerning the recent escalation in Iran of the persecution of members of the Baha'i religion.

Lord Glenarthur

We remain deeply concerned at the continued persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran. For the past five years we have co-sponsored the resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) and, since 1985, similar resolutions at the UN General Assembly. We again co-sponsored the resolution on Iran adopted in the committee of the General Assembly on 27th November 1987. These resolutions urged the Iranian Government to respect the human rights standards set out in the instruments to which it is a party. We will continue to raise this issue at every suitable opportunity—bilaterally, in concert with our European partners and at the United Nations.