Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made in protecting the Baha'i community in Iran. [29766/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community has engaged with the authorities in Iran to ensure that academic and other dissidents involved in civil disobedience are treated in accordance with international human rights requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30175/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the most recent developments in the case of a person (details supplied), an Iranian academic who was arrested in Iran on 9 July 2009; the extent to which he is being treated in accordance with human rights requirements. [30176/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 388, 393 and 394 together.

Deputies will be aware that Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been seriously concerned about human rights violations in Iran for some time. I have consistently raised these concerns at the highest level with the Iranian authorities, most recently during the course of my meeting with Foreign Minister Mottaki in Dublin on 9 June. Among the issues I raised at that meeting were the current human rights situation in Iran, including the ongoing detention of the Baha'i community leaders and our concerns about the extensive use of the death penalty. I also expressed my serious concern that the Iranian authorities have effectively refused to receive EU demarches on human rights issues, and emphasised that we expect to be able to convey our position on human rights and other issues in Tehran.

The overall human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate over the course of the past year, since the disputed presidential election of June 2009. Measures taken by the Iranian authorities to repress dissent and to further marginalise minorities such as the Baha'i community include executions, arrests and actions against free speech, such as closing newspapers, blocking websites and arresting contributors to websites of Iranian human rights organisations, as well as detentions on charges such as espionage, propaganda and activities against the Islamic order. Worryingly, Iran's rate of executions has risen in the past year, and the Iranian authorities appear to be using the threat of the death penalty as a method of discouraging further dissent.

Our Embassy in Tehran is actively engaged, in concert with our EU partners, in closely monitoring and reporting on human rights issues in Iran. High Representative Ashton also issued a strong statement on 12 June, the first anniversary of the 2009 Presidential election, condemning Iran's human rights abuses, including the increasing use of the death penalty, as well as reiterating concerns over the ongoing trial of the seven Baha'i community leaders.

I have reported to the House on a number of occasions in relation to the growing oppression of the Baha'i minority, including the arrest and trial on very dubious charges of leading members of the faith. As indicated, I expressed my concerns on the treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and the ongoing trial of its leaders at my meeting with Foreign Minister Mottaki on 9 June. There are some unconfirmed reports that the trial of the seven community leaders has now concluded, after three days of successive court hearings from 12-14 June. It is clear that the Iranian authorities are persecuting a minority for their religious beliefs, and indeed they appear to be actively trying to suppress a religious faith.

In relation to the specific case of Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh, I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave on 27 April to his question on the matter. Dr. Tajbakhsh was sentenced on 10 February to five years imprisonment for a variety of charges linked to the post-election disturbances in Iran. He has been released on bail since 13 March, and it remains to be seen whether he will in due course be permitted to leave the country. I discussed Dr. Tajbakhsh's case with Foreign Minister Mottaki at our meeting on 9 June and requested that he and his family be permitted to leave Iran.

Ireland will continue to raise human rights in Iran and to express our concerns about the marked deterioration in respect for such rights at every suitable opportunity, both bilaterally and at EU and UN level.