§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests he has conveyed through diplomatic channels to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the broadcast on Tehran radio on 6 March of a speech by the President of the Supreme Court of Iran regarding the alleged duty of458W Muslims to murder Mr. Salman Rushdie; and whether he will make it clear to the Iranian authorities that normal relations between the United Kingdom and the Islamic Republic will be impossible so long as prominent Iranian figures continue to repeat these threats.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe have made it clear to Iran on many occasions that the threat to the life of Mr. Rushdie must be lifted. We can have normal relations with Iran only if she fulfils her international obligations, in particular by removing the use or threat of violence against citizens of other countries.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights the speech broadcast on 6 March by the President of the Supreme Court of Iran in which the President claimed that the Islamic Republic was implementing sentences such as stoning to death for adultery; and whether he will request that such punishments be investigated by the commission.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe United Kingdom has played an active role in discussions on Iran in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. We hope that when the UN special representative pays his second visit to Iran he will be given the opportunity to investigate thoroughly all aspects of human rights there by the Iranian authorities. We shall pay close attention to his findings.