HR 133: Letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from the Chairman of the Committee

 

 

Bahá'í community in Iran

 

The Foreign Affairs Committee has considered recent reports in the Iranian media that seven imprisoned members of the Bahá'í faith have been charged with offences that could carry the death penalty. These include "espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic".

 

My colleagues and I are very concerned about the possible fate of these individuals. Representatives of the Bahá'í community in the UK have told us that the charges are denied categorically and that they are part of a systematic long-term campaign of persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran.

 

We would be grateful if HM Government could do everything in its power to make representations to the Iranian government that these seven individuals should be treated in accordance with international norms of human rights.

 

 

27 February 2009