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Sep
19
UK government ‘deeply concerned’ for Bahá’ís in Iran
Filed Under Human Rights, Iran, Parliamentary | Leave a Comment
The United Kingdom government has called for the release of the seven Bahá’í leaders, pictured right, being held in Iran.
In a statement to the 9th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva between 8-26 September, the UK said, “We repeat our call for the release of the Iranian Bahá’í leadership who have been detained without charge in Iran since May this year.”
The government’s call follows a statement to the Human Rights Council by the French Presidency of the European Union which condemned discrimination against – and the systematic repression of – religious and ethnic minorities in Iran. “The situation for Bahá’ís, for example, has deteriorated,” said the EU statement.
The European Union has also asked the Iranian government to reconsider its revision of the penal code which proposes mandatory capital punishment for apostasy.
The code is also a cause for concern for the United Kingdom government: “We are deeply concerned about the severe restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran,” it said, “and also the impact the draft apostasy legislation would have, if adopted, on members of minority religions such as Bahá’ís and Christians.”
The UK government has also condemned Iran’s execution of juvenile offenders.
The seven members of the Bahá’í coordinating committee remain in Evin Prison in Tehran. No announcement has been made of formal charges, although last month, a government prosecutor was quoted in the press as saying the individuals had “confessed” to operating an “illegal” organization with ties to Israel and other countries. The charges have been categorically denied by the Bahá’í International Community.
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