§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Iran about(a) the continuation of the execution order against Salman Rushdie, and (b) the continuing violations of human rights with particular reference to executions. [56707]
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§ Mr. FatchettIn New York on 24 September Dr. Kharrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, made an unequivocal statement of the Iranian Government's position on the threat to Salman Rushdie. He made it clear that his Government will take no action whatsoever to threaten the life of Salman Rushdie or anybody associated with his work, nor will it encourage or assist anybody to do so. We have long sought such assurances.
We have made our concerns known to the Iranians about the recent increases in the bounty. The Iranian Government have always maintained that the bounty offered by the XV Khordad Foundation was a private matter over which they had no control. In his statement in New York Dr. Kharrazi said that his government disassociated themselves from the bounty and did not support it. We shall continue to look for ways of resolving this matter satisfactorily.
We and our EU Partners intend to continue our policy of engagement with the Iranian regime. This will include, as in the past, keeping up pressure for improvements in some Iranian policies, including those affecting human rights. In particular, we shall continue to press the Iranians to allow a visit to Iran by the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Maurice Copithorne.