Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hope the junior Senator from County Meath will be allocated the same amount of grace. Some Senators will be aware that the largest religious minority in Iran is the Baha'i faith. Many people across the country know members of the Baha'i faith who live in their community. Senators may be aware that members of the Baha'i faith who live in Iran are severely persecuted simply because of their religion. The UN and most human rights experts agree that the persecution of Baha'i people in Iran is one of the most obvious cases of state-sponsored persecution. Any doubt that the persecution of Baha'i people in Iran is systematic and state-sponsored has been erased by the recent upsurge in their arrest, conviction and imprisonment. It was always the case that between 50 and 100 Baha'i people were in prison in Iran but in the past few months, as Iran battles a severe Covid-19 resurgence, the Iranian authorities have begun to arrest and imprison more Baha'i people. In recent weeks, at least 80 Baha'i people have been targeted and subjected to arbitrary arrest, interrogation and conviction on trumped-up charges. Some of them have been sent to prison, while others have been convicted and are at home in terror, waiting to be summoned to serve their sentences. Among those arrested is an elderly man who will struggle to survive Covid-19 if he contracts it in prison. Also affected are a couple who are caring for their daughter who has cancer. They are terrified that there will be no-one to care for their very sick daughter if they are summoned to prison at the same time. They are worried because they know that could easily happen, having previously seen such things happen to other Baha'i people.

For me, the statistics in respect of the ramping up of persecution of Baha'i people in Iran are more than numbers because I have family in Iran who are members of the Baha'i faith. When I read about Baha'i people being arrested and imprisoned, I fully understand how arbitrary and religiously motivated the arrests really are and I know there is a chance that the next person arrested might be a member of my extended family. The simple fact that members of my extended family who live in Iran are of the Baha'i faith is enough to have them arrested and imprisoned.

None of my family members has committed a crime, but nor had any of the 80 Baha'i people who were arrested in recent weeks. These people are being persecuted simply on the basis of their beliefs. The Baha'i people who are being arrested and imprisoned are ordinary people. They are not trying to overthrow the regime or cause trouble in their society. Rather, they simply want to live their lives. All they are asking for are ordinary human rights.

I wish to highlight this issue with the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and the Iranian ambassador to Ireland. I am asking the Members of the House to speak up on this issue and shine a light on the persecution of members of the Baha'i faith in Iran.