Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I extend a warm welcome to the delegates. It is important that the committee writes to the Iranian ambassador to Ireland expressing our concern that there has been no official investigation into the death of Mr. Ataollah Rezvani in Bandar Abbas. It is disturbing to all of us that there has been no official investigation.

Historically, how are relations between the Baha'i community and Iran’s other religious communities? I understand the repression of the Baha'i community intensified after the Islamic revolution in 1979. Why was it singled out over other religious communities?

With the election of Mr. Rouhani we have heard positive messages that came out of the UN General Assembly meeting recently.

His actions, rather than his words, will change people's minds. I note the delegates' argument that the Iranian constitution and the international covenants to which Iran has signed up provide for just and transparent treatment of citizens. Unfortunately, however, that is not happening. Has the Bahá'í community faced repression outside Iran and has the Iranian Government tried to influence other countries in how they treat members of the community? Is the fact that the Bahá'í community was historically based in Palestine but is now in Israel a factor in how it is treated? I understand the issue has been raised with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but what else can the Department and this committee do? We can raise the issue regularly with the authorities, but is there any other way we can express our concerns?

There has been talk of sending a delegation comprising members of the committee to Iran to discuss the positive resumption of agriculture and beef trade. Would it be helpful for such a delegation to raise the issue of prisoners' rights, as well as human rights? Is there anything in particular the delegates would like us to raise should we visit Iran later this year or early next year?