Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Iranian ambassador the continuing incarceration, without charge, of members of the Baha'i community and the contravention involved of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20925/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I have stated previously in the House, the case of the seven Baha'i community leaders continues to be of grave concern. I have personally raised this case, and matters relating to human rights and religious freedom generally, directly with the Iranian authorities at the highest levels, including in person and by letter with Foreign Minister Mottaki. In addition, my Department frequently conveys my concerns on such matters to the Iranian Ambassador here. Officials of my Department also meet regularly with members of the Baha'i community in Ireland; the most recent such meeting took place last January.

The Baha'i community leaders, who have been in detention for over two years now, have been charged with a number of offences, including "spreading corruption on earth." Some of these offences attract the death penalty in Iran. This is of particular concern given that the Iranian authorities have increased their use of the death penalty in the past year. Just last week, the E.U. High Representative issued a strong statement condemning the execution of five Iranian citizens on 9 May.

After numerous deferrals, the trial of the detained Baha'i leaders began on 12 January and there were further hearings on 7 February and 12 April. The latest hearing was adjourned after the defence refused to participate because the detainees' families were denied access to the hearing. The conditions in which the Baha'i community leaders are confined are also a matter of serious disquiet. Furthermore, I am highly concerned about the continued persecution of the wider Baha'i community in Iran, including reports of interrogations, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, destruction of property and denial of education to Baha'i students. This is taking place against a background of widespread oppression by the Iranian authorities, which has increased since the Presidential election in 2009.

Iran is a signatory of the binding International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as such is obliged to protect the rights guaranteed therein. Ireland took the opportunity to raise the Baha'i community leaders' case at the UN Human Rights Council last September and Ireland again supported consideration of these matters at the Human Rights Council in March. The E.U. High Representative issued a strong statement on 12 January, which Ireland fully supported, expressing the E.U.'s acute concerns about the trial and the motivation for the charges brought. The E.U. has repeatedly drawn attention to the oppression perpetrated against the Baha'i faith and its members by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to monitor closely this particular case, the treatment of the wider Baha'i community in Iran and other violations of human rights in Iran. The Government will also continue to bring our views to the notice of the Iranian authorities through bilateral contacts in Tehran, Dublin and elsewhere, as well as in cooperation with our E.U. partners.