Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in protecting the Baha'i community in Iran; his plans in this regard in conjunction with his European Union colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13479/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The human rights situation in Iran remains a matter of serious concern. This includes freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary arrest, and torture in detention. There are concerns in particular about the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, political activists, journalists and bloggers, and human rights defenders. Human rights issues therefore continue to constitute an important part of our engagement and dialogue with Iran.

During my address to the Human Rights Council on 4 March, I expressed my concern that “Freedom of Religion and Belief is in peril in many places worldwide, with members of minority religious communities, including those of Christian, Muslim and Baha’i faith, disproportionately affected by violence, discrimination, and harassment.”

Ireland continues to call strongly for the release of the seven Bahá’í leaders and the end to the persecution of members of this faith in Iran, including through bilateral contacts, with our EU partners and at the UN. Ireland has been instrumental in consistent activity by the EU in raising the discriminatory treatment of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

Bilaterally, our concerns are conveyed to the Iranian Ambassador and Embassy on all appropriate occasions. Moreover, in January 2015, during political consultations with Iran, which took place in Dublin, my Department again directly communicated our concerns regarding the treatment of the Baha’i community to the visiting Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Majid Takht Ravanchi.

During Iran’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in April 2014, Ireland voiced concerns in its intervention regarding the situation of religious minorities, including recommending that Iran review its policies discriminating against students on account of their faith, ensure that the trials of members of religious minorities are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, and accord them the full rights of citizens of Iran.

At the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council in September 2014, under Agenda Item Four, on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, Ireland raised concerns that some groups, including those of the Baha’i faith and some Christian groups, are subject to significant persecution.

We also raised the issue at the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2015 during the interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

My Department maintains regular contact with the Irish Bahá’í community.

Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in relation to religious minorities in Iran and to make clear our concerns to the Iranian authorities at every appropriate opportunity.