Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the detention of a person (details supplied); his views on this detention; if he will raise this matter with his Iranian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43745/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am familiar with the individual referred to in this question and the circumstances of this individual's arrest in June this year after taking part in a peaceful protest. The apparent arrest, detention and prosecution of this individual for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression is of great concern. It is our understanding other interested governments are also monitoring this case closely and that the case has been raised with Iran at the highest level including with the Iranian President.

Ireland has always attached priority to safeguarding the position and rights of human rights defenders and has continually advocated that civil society actors must be free to operate in a safe and enabling environment, free from repression. Ireland's concerns on issues of tolerance of civil society and freedom of expression have been raised with the Iranian authorities, as part of our ongoing dialogue with them on the need for greater respect for human rights within Iran, and we will continue to do so, including making reference as appropriate to the infringements of basic human rights highlighted in this case.

In the 2010 Universal Periodic Review of the human rights situation in Iran at the United Nations in Geneva, Ireland raised concerns over human rights violations, including with regard to freedom of expression, association and assembly. We noted reported attacks against and the detention of human rights defenders and deplored attempts to restrict peaceful demonstrations and actions. We further voiced our concerns about serious deficiencies in the area of gender equality. Further concerns in relation to treatment of religious minorities and the continued excessive use of capital punishment in Iran were raised by Ireland in the second Universal Periodic Review of Iran which took place in October 2014.

Human rights defenders and those promoting important issues such as gender equality should not be detained for simply exercising their rights, and all those arbitrarily detained in such circumstances should be immediately released. This concern has been consistently conveyed to the Iranian authorities, and we will continue to do so. Ireland will continue to follow closely the human rights situation in Iran and to monitor this case in that context.