Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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174. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will, at the next periodic review at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Iran, follow through on the recommendations of the previous Council in relation to the situation of the Baha'i in Iran. [15183/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Universal Periodic Review of Iran took place at the Human Rights Council in October 2014. The next Periodic Review of Iran is likely to take place in April 2019. Our approach in each Periodic Review is determined by the situation prevailing at the time, including the extent to which recommendations accepted during previous reviews have been implemented.

Ireland intervened in the October 2014 review of Iran, expressing concern and making recommendations about the situation of some religious minorities and the use of the death penalty in Iran. I regret that Iran accepted neither of the two recommendations we made.

We have real concerns about the significant persecution which some groups, including those of the Bahá'í faith, are subject to in Iran. The UPR is not the only forum in which these concerns are expressed.

During my address to the Human Rights Council on 4 March, I stated 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 Bahá'í faith, disproportionately affected by violence, discrimination, and harassment." Ireland also recently raised the Bahá'í with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and directly with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on a visit to Dublin.

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

Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in relation to human rights issues in Iran, including the plight of some religious minorities, and to express our concerns to Iranian authorities at every appropriate opportunity.