Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have an opportunity to address this issue. The human rights situation in Iran remains a matter of serious concern and this particular issue forms an important part of our engagement and dialogue with Iran. Discriminatory practices in respect of access to employment, education and other basic services continue to affect Baha'i and other minority groups in Iran. Baha'i business owners face obstacles in starting and operating businesses. Baha'i students face challenges in gaining access to education, with consistent reports of applicants to universities being rejected on the basis of their faith.

The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Iran has reported that members of minorities continue to be subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention for engaging in peaceful advocacy for their rights. Ireland continues to call strongly for an end to the persecution of members of the Baha'i faith in Iran.  Ireland has consistently raised the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'is in multilateral fora. Most recently, at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland raised concerns regarding the continued discrimination against members of ethnic and religious minorities, making specific reference to the Baha'i community. Furthermore, in February, officials from my Department met representatives of the Baha'i International Community. This provided an opportunity to get an update on the situation of the Baha'i people in Iran and Yemen, particularly in the context of the then upcoming Human Rights Council in March. Ireland also called on Iran to take all necessary steps to protect the rights of the Baha'i during the universal periodic review of that country's human rights record in November 2019.

Bilaterally, our concerns about human rights are conveyed to the Iranian Embassy on all appropriate occasions. As part of political consultations with Iran which took place in Tehran in February, senior officials from my Department again directly communicated our concerns regarding the human rights situation in Iran. Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in respect of religious minorities in Iran and to make clear our concerns to the Iranian authorities.

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