§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he(a) has made and (b) plans to make regarding the imprisonment of members of the Jewish community and others from Shiraz; what plans he has to visit Iran; and if he will make a statement. [155474]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 26 March 2001]: We and our European partners have taken every opportunity to raise with Iran our concerns about the unsatisfactory nature of the case, and will continue to do so. My hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe most recently did so with the Iranian ambassador on 22 January. While noting the reductions in sentence on appeal, we continue to hope that the Iranian judiciary will show clemency. We understand that one of the accused is now due to be released following completion of his two-year sentence. The EU sponsored the 4 December General Assembly Resolution expressing concern about discrimination against people who belong to religious minorities and Iranian failure to comply with international standards on the administration of justice.
When he last met his Iranian counterpart Dr. Kharrazi in New York in September, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed Dr.[...] Kharrazi's invitation that he visit Iran in 2001. No date has yet been set.