HL Deb 27 May 1999 vol 601 cc115-6WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ask for clemency to be exercised in the cases of members of the Bahai faith now under sentence of death in Iran, particularly Mrssri Rowhani, Syrus Zabihi and Hhedayat Kashefi.[HL2557]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We and our EU partners condemned the execution of Mr. Ruhollah Rowhani in July 1998 as soon as the news became known, and protested to the Iranian Government. On 4 October 1998 the UK, Austrian and German heads of mission in Tehran (as the EU "Troika") pressed the Iranian Government not to carry out sentences of death on Mr. Sirus Dhabihi-Muqaddam and Mr. Hedayat Kashefi Najafabadi. They were told that the sentences were subject to review by the Supreme Court, and were led to believe the executions would not take place. We continue to monitor these and other cases. We and our EU partners regularly press the Iranians on the plight of the Bahai community in Iran, and ensured that this issue featured prominently in the resolution on human rights in Iran adopted in the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will discuss with the Government of Iran the subject of equal access for Iranians to higher education, without discrimination on grounds of religion. [HL2615]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We regularly press the Iranian Government to remove all forms of persecution and discrimination that affect minority groups in Iran, and will continue to do so. Most recently we ensured that the resolution on human rights in Iran adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April included firm language on the Bahais, and that the resolution urged that UN recommendations on religious intolerance be implemented to allow the complete emancipation of the Bahais and other religious minorities in Iran.