HC Deb 07 November 2000 vol 356 cc180-1W
24. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of Jews in Iran. [135185]

Mr. Hain

The Jewish community in Iran is represented, as are other minorities, by a member in the Majles, and Judaism is among the religions recognised by the Iranian Constitution. Jewish Iranians are free to run businesses and enjoy their own culture, although the right to hold public office is circumscribed.

However, we remain concerned at the sentencing of ten Jews and two Muslims on espionage charges. We and our EU partners have taken every appropriate opportunity to raise our concerns throughout the trial and the subsequent appeal about the nature of the proceedings. We hope that the Iranian Judiciary will show clemency.