Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I bid the ambassador a good afternoon. We are continuing the conversations we have had on previous occasions. I acknowledge that Iran, or Persia, as it was formerly known, is a very old civilisation, much older than ours. It is also a very cultured civilisation, with a wealth of poetry and literature. It is difficult to reconcile this with the various human rights issues we hear about in respect of Iran.

There are human rights issues in respect of people doing the job they are supposed to do. It is almost similar to the doctors in Bahrain who cannot be doctors and treat people because of issues with the law in that country. People such as lawyers and those in the media are prevented from doing the work they are supposed to do. Lawyers, in particular, end up in jail and being tortured and so on because they are defending other human rights activists. Nazrim Situde has been mentioned. I want to mentionAbdolfattah Soltani,one of the co-founders of the centre for human rights defenders. Last week Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani was awarded the International Bar Association human rights award. He is in prison and is subject to abuse and torture, more than 1,000 km from Tehran which is difficult for the families to visit. The families of these lawyers are also being victimised in society. It is very hard to accept and to understand these things are going on.

I am disturbed by executions, particularly group executions and the execution of people under 18 years of age. His Excellency and I have discussed this already on another occasion. It is the lack of respect for the judicial process, that people in very many countries all buy into. What can be done to stop this barbaric practice - the executions, particularly where young people have been executed. We discussed the role of women in Iran on one occasion. Having spoken to Mr. Panahiazar's wife also, I formed the opinion it was a much more tolerant society and there was no obligation in terms of wearing the burqa as there is in other countries. Then I read about the 1 million signatures campaign, which suggests there is discrimination against women. I would like to know the ambassador's opinion on that.

I know members will raise the issue of religious minorities and Camp Ashraf. I would like to hear His Excellency's comments on human rights issues, executions and women.