Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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207. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of the mistreatment by police of a person (details supplied), a human rights activist, with the authorities in Uzbekistan; his plans on doing so; his views on the human rights position in Uzbekistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25219/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am concerned by reports of the mistreatment of the person in question who is a prominent human rights defender in Uzbekistan. This case was raised at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on 11 June. The EU expressed concern at reports that this human rights defender was detained for more than 10 hours and subjected to excessive and humiliating treatment by local authorities in the city of Chinaz in Uzbekistan on 31 May, and that she was subsequently detained again on 5 June and subjected once more to a physically invasive and humiliating search. The EU called on the government of Uzbekistan to properly investigate her official complaint of mistreatment and to ensure that those responsible would be held accountable. The EU also urged the government of Uzbekistan to implement in good faith its national and international human rights obligations and commitments. In regard to the position of human rights in Uzbekistan, this was the subject of a Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in 2013. As a member of the Council, Ireland called on Uzbekistan to implement fully and effectively the recommendations by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in his 2003 report and the Committee against Torture in its concluding observations in 2011. This recommendation was accepted by Uzbekistan. Ireland also called on Uzbekistan to agree a precise and early date for the visit by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which was noted by Uzbekistan. I welcome Uzbekistan’s adoption of a National Action Plan aimed at ensuring the implementation of the recommendations which it accepted under the 2013 Universal Periodic Review exercise. I would strongly encouraged Uzbekistan to step up its cooperation with the UN to ensure that this Plan is properly implemented and duly monitored, in cooperation with international partners.

At the Human Rights Council session in March, Ireland supported an EU Statement on Uzbekistan which acknowledged the recent releases of prisoners as positive steps and encouraged further releases. The Statement also expressed the EU’s ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, including restrictions on political activity and on civil society, reports of torture, and the imprisonment of human rights defenders. The EU encouraged Uzbekistan to implement planned reforms and to cooperate with UN Special Procedures.

The Human Rights situation in Uzbekistan is regularly discussed within the framework of that country's Human Rights Dialogue with the EU. The most recent meeting took place in November 2014. The EU highlighted its serious concerns about reports of the torture and abuse of detainees, and urged Uzbekistan to make the widest possible use of the next prison amnesty. Other matters raised included the need to cooperate with the International Labour Organisation on forced labour, the need to ease restrictions on the press, and the importance of independent civil society organisations. The next EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan later this year and will be a further opportunity to raise with Uzbekistan mistreatment of detainees and the wider human rights situation in the country.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the position of human rights and political freedoms in Bahrain, following the detention of opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman; if he or his officials have discussed these matters with European Union colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am familiar with the case of Sheikh Ali Salman, Bahrain’s main opposition leader, who was reportedly jailed for four years last week. The apparent arrest, detention and prosecution of Sheikh Ali Salman for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression is of great concern. Ireland was one of 47 member states who delivered a joint statement expressing serious concern over the human rights situation in Bahrain at the 26^thSession of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014. In the statement, the signatories expressed their concern regarding the protection of human rights in Bahrain and called on the government to expedite the implementation of the recommendations received from the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in this regard. At the 27^thsession of the Human Rights Council in October 2014, in a national statement, Ireland welcomed the positive steps taken by the authorities in Bahrain with respect to cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights while again expressing our serious concerns about the human rights situation, in particular condemning ‘the continuing arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, detained for peacefully exercising their human rights’.

At the 28^thSession of the Human Rights Council in March 2015, Ireland raised further concerns as regards to the detention or persecution of civil society actors in Bahrain for peacefully exercising their rights.

As noted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, during the 29^thSession of the Human Rights Council on 15 June 2015, “the way forward to ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis is through genuine dialogue between the Government and the opposition, without preconditions”, and I would like to echo his call for all those detained in connection with their peaceful activities to be released.

Ireland will continue to follow closely the human rights situation in Bahrain and to monitor the case of Sheikh Ali Salman in this context.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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209. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of an artist (details supplied), who has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison as a result of artwork and activism, with the Iranian authorities; his plans on doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25221/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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My Department raised a number of human rights issues with the Iranian authorities in January 2015, during political consultations with the visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Takht-Ravanchi. These included the issue of freedom of expression in Iran.I raised human rights issues myself during my meeting with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mr. Larijani, on 16 June, focusing on that occasion on the issues of the death penalty and the treatment of minorities. I had not at that point become aware of the case mentioned by the Deputy. As I have made clear in response to previous questions, my Department cannot attempt to follow and make representations on every human rights case that is brought to our attention around the world. For this reason, much of our action on human rights is conducted through the EU, or focused on the overall principle rather than specific cases. I agree, nonetheless, that this case is a matter of concern, and I will ensure that those concerns are conveyed to the Iranian authorities at an early appropriate opportunity.