Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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337. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the very dangerous situation of the Baha'is in Iran, especially given the unprecedented number of anti-Baha'is comments in official news media and Government sponsored website releases with some referring to the Bah'ai as the enemy and a polluted sect. [19236/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the situation of the Baha’i in Iran; it is an issue that my Department follows closely.

The human rights situation in Iran in general is a matter of serious concern. Freedom of religion and belief, of expression and of assembly are not always upheld, and there are particular concerns about the treatment of some 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.

The intolerance and persecution of Baha’i by the Iranian authorities, which has continued at varying levels of intensity throughout the existence of the Islamic Republic, is a grave reproach to Iran and its reputation, and a matter of deep concern.

In March 2015, I addressed the UN Human Rights Council and 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.”

I am aware that seven Baha’i leaders remain in detention in Iran, and that a further 73 Baha’is are imprisoned there solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. I am aware that people of the Baha’i faith in Iran are routinely discriminated against, and persecuted on a daily basis. Ireland will continue to call, through bilateral contacts, with our EU partners and at the UN, for the release of those Baha’i imprisoned on the basis of their faith, and for Iran to cease persecuting members of the Baha’i community. Ireland has been instrumental in ensuring that the EU consistently raise the discriminatory treatment of the Baha’i in Iran, and will continue to ensure that this remains firmly on the political agenda.

My Department engaged in political consultations with Iran in January 2015 here in Dublin, and took this opportunity to directly communicate Ireland’s concerns regarding the treatment of the Baha’i community to the visiting Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Majid Takht Ravanchi.

I personally voiced these concerns directly to Mr. Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament), during his visit to Ireland in June 2015.

Iran was reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review process in 2014. Ireland raised concerns in its intervention regarding the situation of religious minorities. We recommended 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 to these people the full rights of citizens of Iran.

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 Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, 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 this concern at the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council in 2014, under Agenda Item Four (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention).

My Department also maintains contact with the Irish Baha’i community, through meetings and regular correspondence.

I can assure the Deputy that Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in relation to religious minorities in Iran, in particular regarding those of the Baha’i faith, and to make clear our concerns to the Iranian authorities at every appropriate opportunity.