§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the forthcoming trial of the 13 detained Jews in Iran, with particular reference to the fairness of the trial procedure and whether independent observers will be permitted to attend. [117857]
§ Mr. HainI refer to my answers to my hon. Friend's questions of 3 April 2000,Official Report, column 282W. It would not be right to speculate on the conduct of this trial before it has begun. The Iranian Government have stressed repeatedly that the trial of those detained on espionage charges, including members of the Jewish community, will be fair and open. These are commitments to which the international community will hold the Iranian government.