Subscribe to Bahá’í News UK
Jan
26
Baha’i leaders on trial in Iran: questions asked in British Parliament
Filed Under Baha'i community, Iran, Parliamentary | Leave a Comment
The trial of the seven leaders of the Baha’is in Iran continues to be a subject of debate in the UK parliament, as reported in Hansard.
In a recent session of questions in the House of Lords, the parliament’s upper house, to Baroness Kinnock, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Eric Avebury asked what action the British government was going to take at the UN Human Rights Council on the trial of seven leading members of the Baha’i community in Iran.
“Reports so far suggest that the trial of the Baha’is has worrying parallels with the post-election show trials and falls far short of international standards,” Baroness Kinnock said in reply. “[Foreign Office Minister] Ivan Lewis summoned the Iranian ambassador on 20 January to echo EU calls for the Baha’is to receive a just and open trial. We are considering options for further action at the Human Rights Council, with the universal periodic review providing an important opportunity to draw attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.”
Former Att0rney General Lord Peter Goldsmith reminded the House of Lords about the cases of three young Baha’is, Haleh Rouhi, Raha Sabet and Sasan Taqva who have been held in Ministry of Intelligence detention facilities since November 2007 for their part in a development project to help poor children in Shiraz. Addressing Baroness Kinnock, Lord Goldsmith asked, “Can she confirm that, if they are supposed to be serving sentences of imprisonment, even under Iranian law it is illegal to hold them there? Will she be able to make representations on their behalf as well as on behalf of those to whom she has already referred?”
In a strongly worded intervention, Lord Howell of Guildford said, “My Lords, in addition to the very telling interventions that we have just had on the plight of the Baha’is, does the Minister recall that in modern Iran the persecution of the Baha’is has been long standing and very vicious and that it has involved executions-sometimes public executions-the desecration of cemeteries and other revolting practices that bring home the repulsive nature of much of the mullahs’ regime in Iran today? Will she therefore accept from this side, too, strong support for using very firm words and action in all possible fora to ensure that the plight of the Baha’is is brought home? Does she recall that many have had to seek refuge in this country, particularly in my home town of Guildford? We owe it to these people to stand up for them, given the horrific experiences that they have had.”
Baroness Kinnock assured the questioners that the British government would continue to take their concerns very seriously.
“My Lords, I reassure my noble and learned friend that I will ensure that representations are made on behalf of the people to whom he referred,” Lady Kinnock said. “We continuously express our deep reservations about the treatment and the severe intimidation that these people suffer as a result of staying true to their faith. At least 50 Baha’is remain in detention in Iran and we have grave concerns about the conditions in which they are being held.”
Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, House of Lords, Iran, persecution, human rights
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.