§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iranians of the Ballá i faith have(a)applied for visas to visit the UK, (b)been granted visas to visit the UK and (c)applied for asylum on arrival in the UK following the granting of a visitors' visa in each year from 1998. [176621]
§ Mr. MullinEntry clearance applicants are not asked to record their religion as part of the application process. UK visas does not therefore hold figures for the number of Iranians of the Baha'i faith who have applied or been granted visas to visit the UK. Data on the specific religion of asylum seekers are not recorded and collated centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to member states of the European Union in relation to the treatment by Iran of the Bahaá'is and other religious minorities; and if he will make a statement. [176656]
§ Mr. RammellMinisters and officials regularly discuss the human rights situation in Iran with EU colleagues. EU partners share our serious concerns about restrictions on religious freedom and the persecution of religious minorities. The EU has raised these concerns with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, including through the EU/Iran human rights dialogue.
The situation of the Bahá'i community in Iran is of particular concern. The Bahá'is are not among the religious minorities recognised by Iran's constitution. The EU has made representations to the Iranian Government about the persecution of Bahá'is, most recently concerning the demolition of a Bahá'i shrine at Babol. The UK and most European countries cosponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in December which expressed serious concern at the treatment of religious minorities, including the Bahá'is.