§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the protest made by the International Association of Conference Interpreters against the sentencing in Iran of two Iranian-German translator-interpreters, Khalil Rostamkhani and Said Sadr, for the alleged "participation" in a conference to which they provided their services; and, if so, whether they will make representations to the Iranian Government. [HL797]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe are aware that two interpreters were among those convicted on 13 January for their participation at an open conference in Berlin. Both the UK and the EU have publicly expressed deep concern at the verdicts. We and our EU partners take every opportunity to raise human rights concerns of this nature with the Iranian authorities, both in Tehran and London. My honourable friend Peter Hain, then Minister of State at the FCO, did so with the Iranian Ambassador on 22 January.