Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports of the unlawful killing of a person (details supplied); if the matter has been raised at the level of the European Union, specifically at the Council of Ministers. [25098/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was very concerned to hear of the death in unexplained circumstances on 2 June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Mr Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, executive director of the organisation "La Voix des Sans Voix" (Voice of the Voiceless). The discovery two days later of the body of Mr Fidele Bazana Edadi, Mr Chebeya's colleague and driver, was reason for further concern. Mr Chebeya was a leading defender of human rights, who had worked for years on promoting human rights and democracy in the DRC. Mr. Chebeya had been arrested, detained and threatened by security forces numerous times over the past two decades on account of his advocacy work.

Mr Chebeya was last heard from on the evening of June 1, when he indicated that he and Mr Bazana were en route to a meeting with the Inspector General of the Congolese National Police, who had reportedly summoned him. His body was found tied up in the back seat of his car on a road to the west of Kinshasa the following day. The European Union, the United States and the United Nations immediately called for an impartial and transparent inquiry into the matter. The same day, the Government of the DRC launched an official inquiry and subsequently announced the suspension of several police officers, including the chief of police.

Ireland also raised our concerns over the deaths at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 8 June, echoing the call that the investigation be impartial and transparent. We have subsequently heard that the Government of the DRC has agreed in principle to the offer from the Dutch Government of a team of forensic experts to assist in determining the cause of the deaths. While this particular incident has not been discussed at the level of the Council of Ministers, the European Union remains very concerned about the killings of other human rights defenders in the DRC in recent years. Congolese human rights groups remain particularly vulnerable to harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and other abuses by security forces. Human rights and the cause of human rights defenders occupy a very important place in Ireland's foreign policy. We will continue to work with our partners in the EU, and the wider international community, to support the work of the individuals who put their lives at risk in defence of others, in the DRC and elsewhere.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on the general human rights situation in Iran and also as it pertains in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, in which thousands of Iranians are being held, some on death row, following protests at last year's disputed elections; if his attention has been drawn to the movements of support of these detainees across Europe and specifically a statement in support of human rights in Iran, signed by a majority of Members of the British Parliament as well as more than 120 Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and many more at the European Parliament; and if he will give his position on both the existence, and operation, of this camp as well as his views of such motions of support as detailed above. [25111/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and its E.U. partners have been seriously concerned about human rights violations in Iran for many years. In the past year, these concerns have been greatly increased by Iran's large-scale actions to repress dissent. These measures include executions, arrests and actions against free speech, such as closing newspapers, blocking websites and arresting contributors to websites of Iranian human rights organisations. Iran's rate of executions has risen in the past year and the Iranian authorities appear to be using the death penalty as a method of discouraging further dissent.

I took the opportunity to raise the issue of human rights in Iran with Foreign Minister Mottaki in Dublin last week. During our meeting, I outlined Ireland and the EU's serious concerns about human rights in Iran, particularly the extensive use of the death penalty in Iran, and referred to the apparently imminent executions of a further group of detainees. I also took the opportunity to raise a number of specific human rights cases with Foreign Minister Mottaki, including the ongoing trial and imprisonment of the seven detained Baha'i community leaders. I have raised human rights issues with Minister Mottaki on many previous occasions. Ireland will continue to take suitable opportunities to raise Iranian human rights issues in our bilateral contacts, at EU level, at the UN General Assembly and in the UN Human Rights Council.

The Deputy has also raised the situation in Camp Ashraf in Iraq which is home to over three thousand members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian opposition group that established itself in Iraq in 1986 at the invitation of Saddam Hussein. The Government does not regard the PMOI/NCRI as representative of any substantial body of opinion in Iran, and has no dealings with it. I would further add that the mass public protests demanding reform in Iran in the past year are not connected with the NCRI.

I have outlined my views on the situation in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, specifically in a written response given on 21 October 2009. This is a separate matter, not connected with human rights issues in Iran. I have made clear that it is incumbent upon the Iraqi authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of those Iranian exiles still living in Camp Ashraf and to prevent the recurrence of violence such as that which took place in July 2009. It is also critical that there must be no question of a forcible return to Iran of the residents of the Camp. The Iraqi Government has stated so far that they have no intention of doing this.