Urgent question on
Mahsa Amini
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs if he will make a statement
on what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities
about ongoing protests regarding the death of Mahsa Amini.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
The death of Mahsa Amini in Iran was a
shocking reminder of the repression faced by women
in Iran The protests
across the country that have followed show us that the Iranian
people are not satisfied with the path that their Government have
taken.
I commend the bravery of ordinary Iranians seeking to exercise
their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in the
face of appalling police violence. We condemn the Iranian
authorities’ crackdown on protesters, journalists and internet
freedom: the use of violence in response to the expression of
fundamental rights by women or any other members of Iranian
society is wholly unjustifiable.
Yesterday, on 10 October, we announced sanctions on senior
security and political figures in Iran and the
so-called morality police. We have sanctioned the morality police
in their entirety, as well as their chief, Mohammed Rostami
Cheshmeh Gachi, and the head of the Tehran division, Haj Ahmed
Mirzaei. For decades, the morality police have used the threat of
detention and violence to control what Iranian women wear and how
they behave in public.
The UK is also imposing sanctions on five leading political and
security officials in Iran for committing
serious human rights violations in suppressing fuel protests
in Iran in 2019. The UK
maintains sanctions designations against a further 78 individuals
and one entity under our Iran human rights
sanctions regime. In all, there are more than 200 sanctions
designations in place against Iran including
in relation to human rights, nuclear proliferation and
terrorism.
These protests show that there are thousands of women
in Iran who are not
prepared to put up with violent human rights abuses. Will the UK
Government stand with those brave women as they call for justice,
for freedom and for democracy? Will Ministers meet opposition
groups? Will they ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps? Will
they rule out sanctions relief under the joint comprehensive plan
of action process?
As the Foreign Secretary has said, the protests send a clear
message that Iranian people are not satisfied with the path that
their Government have taken; Iranian leaders must now listen. Of
course, we stand by those people: the use of violence in response
to the expression of fundamental rights by women or any other
members of Iranian society is wholly unjustifiable. We continue
to keep everything under review, and the UK has called for a full
and transparent investigation into the shocking death of Mahsa
Amini.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Enfield, Southgate)
(Lab)
Like many Members of this House, I have been heartened to see the
bravery of the protesters in Iran in the past
few weeks, and particularly the women and girls who are
spearheading these protests. Iran has a young
population—a population which is clamouring for change against an
oppressive regime that aims to restrict the liberty and vitality
of its people
The Opposition stand in solidarity with those protesting for an
end to state violence from the morality police, and in solidarity
with the friends and family of Mahsa Amini and all those who have
been killed or injured in the protests. These protests are about
more than compulsory hijab; they are about ordinary Iranian
people’s demands for fundamental freedoms to live their lives as
they choose.
We are seeing a flourishing of Iranian civil society, and the UK
must support it. While I am pleased that the Government have
increased the sanctions on Iran following the
Labour party’s calls for them to do so, the UK must do more to
support Iranian civil society and independent journalism. BBC
Persian Radio, despite being illegal, is accessed by millions of
Iranians, but the BBC has announced that it will be closed
down.
May I ask the Minister what the Government are doing to support
access to independent news in Iran
If the current regime in Iran ends, the UK
Government will need to be ready to work with Iranian partners.
The UK, today, should be building links with progressive forces
within Iran supporting all
those who speak up for human rights. Will the Minister tell us
how the UK intends to build relationships with Iranian civil
society? There is a sense that change is coming, and we need to
be on the right side of history.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments, and agree very much
with his sentiments. BBC Persian is a legitimate journalistic
organisation with editorial independence from the UK Government,
and we condemn some of the things that have been happening in
relation to the persecution of its employees and ex-employees and
members of their families. It is very important that those people
continue their work, and we are of course continuing to support
the BBC and the BBC World Service in that regard.
We are very concerned about Iran’s human rights record. We raise
the issue of human rights at all appropriate levels of the
Iranian Government and at all appropriate opportunities—at all
levels, at all times—and we will continue to take action with the
international community to press Iran to improve
its poor record, for instance through the Human Rights Council in
Geneva and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iran’s record has been of serious concern to the UK for a long
time, and we will continue to work with the Iranian Government
and others at all levels.
(North Somerset) (Con)
While the malignant regime in Iran is
terrorising women in that country as they seek basic human
rights, it has also been shipping drones to Russia to help it to
suppress the human rights of people in Ukraine. Given
that Iran Air, an instrument
of the Iranian state, was used to take those drones to Russia,
and given the activities that we have seen in recent weeks on the
streets of Iran is it not time
that the Government banned Iran Air from flying to
UK airports? An instrument of the Iranian state should not be
operating freely in the United Kingdom, given its behaviour,
which insults the norms of international law.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question, and, indeed, wish
him luck with his application to become Chair of the Foreign
Affairs Committee. We cannot comment on future sanctions,
including the banning of planes, at this point; I apologise to
him for that.
Mr Speaker
I call the Scottish National party spokesperson.
(East Renfrewshire)
(SNP)
The SNP condemns the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on
protesters, particularly women, in the strongest possible terms.
We are deeply concerned by the regime’s vow to crack down further
“with no leniency”, which appears to be an ominous indication of
further mistreatment.
The bravery of Iranian citizens, especially Iranian women, is
inspiring, and we stand in full solidarity with them. We wish to
hear the UK Government explicitly recognise the death of Mahsa
Amini as femicide. I am also keen to understand how they intend
to go forward with international partners, for instance in
calling for an independent investigation and raising the
mistreatment and killing of protesters at UN level.
We would welcome clarity on how the UK Government are able to
support the free flow of information to help to protect
protesters—particularly women—and on what plans are in place to
support ethnic minorities such as Kurds amid this regime
crackdown.
As I mentioned before, the UK has called for a full and
transparent investigation of the murder of Mahsa Amini, and we
continue to work with our international partners and others to
explore all the options for addressing Iran’s human rights
violations. As the hon. Lady knows, we never comment on possible
future designations or on our future work, but we will continue
to work closely with our international partners.
(Chingford and Woodford
Green) (Con)
I think that the Government have somehow got themselves into a
position of being conflicted over their stance on Iran This terrible
case—the murder of a young woman—calls into question all the
actions of Iran across a wide
spectrum. We talk about the morality police, but it is not the
morality police but the Iranian Government who have imposed this
desperate situation on Iran Will the Minister
assure us that the Government will pursue full criminal actions
against the appalling abuses that are taking place, and take this
to the United Nations at once?
I understand the request from my right hon. Friend, but at this
point we cannot comment on any further actions that we will take.
We have clearly condemned the human rights record, we have
clearly condemned the murder and we have clearly asked for a full
and transparent investigation.
(Walsall South) (Lab)
Brave young women are being beaten to death just for wanting to
be women and to conserve their human rights. We also have British
citizens, Morad Tahbaz and Mehran Raoof, who are still
incarcerated in Iran What are the
British Government going to do to release them?
Of course we have ongoing discussions about many different cases,
but I am afraid I am not able to comment on those at this
point.
(Meon Valley) (Con)
The death of Mahsa Amini is a tragedy, and once
again Iran has shown a
disregard for women’s rights. Women should be able to make their
own decisions and not live in fear. Does my hon. Friend agree
that every woman and man around the world should act in
solidarity and speak out loudly in support of women
in Iran and in other
countries, such as Afghanistan, where women are oppressed? What
more can we do to support them?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. The UK has joined the
international community in clear condemnation of Iran’s response
to the protests. My noble Friend released a
statement on 21 September. On 28 September, Lord Ahmad also
condemned publicly the shocking police violence against
protesters. We summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to
the FCDO on 3 October. In a statement on 3 October, the Foreign
Secretary underlined how the UK was working with our partners to
hold Iran to account, and on
5 October he underlined in remarks to the media that the Iranian
leadership should take note that the people were unhappy with
their direction. Then of course we had the follow-up action with
sanctions. So there have been a number of parts of the action,
but I am afraid that I cannot comment any further at this
stage.
(Rotherham) (Lab)
I stand in solidarity with the women and girls who are protesting
just to be recognised and respected in Iran
Following the deaths of at least 185, including 19 children, what
steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to work with the Iranians
and with international partners to secure justice, and also to
make sure that it is safe for women and girls in Iran
In his statement announcing the sanctions on 10 October, the
Foreign Secretary said:
“The UK stands with the people of Iran
and underlined to the Government of Iran that
“we will hold you to account for your repression of women and
girls and for the shocking violence you have inflicted on your
own people.”
And of course we have called for that full and open and
transparent investigation.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Con)
Can my hon. Friend confirm that the UK Government will hold
Iran’s Government fully responsible for all their human rights
abuses—be they past, present or in the future?
Yes; my hon. Friend makes a good point. Iran’s human rights
record has long been of serious concern to the UK, and the FCDO
has designated it as one of its human rights priority countries.
The continued use of the death penalty, the weak rule of law and
the restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and belief
are deeply worrying.
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
I feel sure that the entire House will thank the Minister for her
words regarding the brave actions of the indomitable women
of Iran and I was glad to
be at the SNP conference at the weekend, where members passed a
motion by acclaim condemning the death of Mahsa Amini. Can I ask
the Minister whether the Government are therefore planning to
make it UK policy to condemn all countries across the middle east
that use the pretence of morality to police the bodies of women
and compel them to wear certain coverings?
We continue to work with many, including our international
partners, on many countries where we see human rights violations,
but we do not comment on operational matters or ongoing
discussions.
(Huntingdon) (Con)
I congratulate the Minister and the Government on the decisive
and meaningful action on sanctions. Sanctions often work best
when done on a multilateral basis, so what contacts are she and
the Government having with other countries, in order that we can
concert the actions on sanctions?
My hon. Friend makes a very good point, and the UK has been
robust in its response to Iran’s repression of protesters. We
have summoned the most senior Iranian diplomat in the UK to
express our concern, we have engaged at senior levels
in Iran and, yesterday, we
issued new sanctions against a number of individuals responsible
for human rights violations. We expect other countries, and the
EU, to follow suit in the coming weeks.
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
I welcome the Government’s sanctions, but the Minister should
take a leaf out of the book of the right hon. Member for
Chingford and Woodford Green ( ). Instead of treating
Ebrahim Raisi as if he is an elected Head of State, we should
refer him to the United Nations as a mass murderer. This man is
responsible for the death of between 5,000 and 30,000 people he
describes as “enemies of God”—his God. Why do we not take
appropriate action and make it obvious that we cannot deal with
these people? This is not a normal democratically elected
regime—they are a bunch of mass murderers—and that is how we
should respond to them.
As I outlined to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford
and Woodford Green ( ), we cannot comment on
this action or on any future discussions that may take place.
(Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
(PC)
Today is the International Day of the Girl and, of course,
everybody in this Chamber stands firm against the violent
oppression of women in Iran We have seen
similar brutality in other countries such as Afghanistan, where
the Taliban have cracked down on gender-based rights and where 53
Hazara girls were recently killed in a terrorist attack. Many
women and girls wish to flee these violent regimes for their own
safety. Will the Minister support women in Iran
Afghanistan and elsewhere by creating a dedicated UK asylum and
resettlement route for women at risk of persecution solely for
asserting the rights that we take for granted?
We continue to work closely with like-minded partners to ensure
that Iran and other
countries are held to account, including via the Human Rights
Council in Geneva and the UN General Assembly in New York. Our
permanent representative in Geneva, Ambassador , specifically raised the death
of Mahsa Amini at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council,
and he called on Iran to carry out an
independent transparent investigation into her death. We joined
52 other countries in a joint statement to the Human Rights
Council urging restraint. Of course, we will continue to work
with those partners when we see human rights abuses in other
countries.
(Warley) (Lab)
Last month, at Foreign Office questions, I challenged the then
Minister to follow our allies in the United States by proscribing
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—the IRGC. In reply, I got
the usual Whitehall waffle. The IRGC is crucial to the survival
of Iran’s appalling clerical fascist regime. Will the latest
outrages now shame the Government into proscribing the IRGC?
We have been clear about our concerns about the IRGC’s continued
destabilising activities throughout the region. The UK maintains
a range of sanctions that work to constrain the destabilising
activities of the IRGC, and the list of proscribed organisations
is kept under constant review. We do not routinely comment on
whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for
proscription.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
Many constituents have contacted me, awed by the bravery and
determination of the women and girls of Iran and
disgusted by the actions of the regime. Indeed, on Saturday there
was a large demonstration against the regime in the centre of
Newcastle.
Newcastle certainly stands in solidarity with the women
of Iran but the regime
seeks to cut off the protestors from each other and from the
wider world using their control of communications such as the
internet, as well as through fear and intimidation. What steps is
the Minister taking with our international allies to shine a
light on what is happening in Iran such as
through the International Criminal Court, in the case of the
murder of Mahsa Amini, or through an international independent
committee of investigation?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question, and I am sure that many
people will have been shocked and horrified at the scenes we are
witnessing today following the death of Mahsa Amini. As I said,
the UK has called for a full and transparent investigation at
this point. We condemn the Iranian authorities, not only for the
crackdown on protestors, but, as she points out, in respect of
internet freedom and journalistic freedom. Iranians must be able
to have peaceful assembly and to protest, and restraint must be
exercised. We have also called on the authorities to release
those who have been unfairly detained during the process.
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
Dr Martin Luther King Jr reminded us that none of us are free
until we are all free, and the scenes in Iran following the
death of Mahsa Amini should remind us that women across the world
are not yet free, which is why I welcome the sanctions laid out
by the Minister.
The Minister also acknowledged the work and importance of BBC
Persian. One thing that will be particularly significant is its
expressing the solidarity we have stated here today to the women
of Iran and their getting
access to the support from across the world. With that in mind,
will the Minister take back to the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport that point about the importance of BBC
Persian and ask it to reconsider the cuts facing the BBC World
Service and that service in particular?
I agree with the hon. Lady that BBC Persian and the BBC World
Service play a vital role in delivering high-quality, accurate
and impartial broadcasting across the globe. The Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office is providing the BBC World
Service with more than £94 million annually for the next three
years, supporting services in 12 languages and improvements to
key services in Arabic, Russian and English—that is in addition
to nearly £470 million. Of course the BBC is operationally and
editorially independent from the Government, and decisions on how
its services are delivered are a matter for the BBC. However, at
times such as this all of us see the value of some of these vital
services, with the BBC World Service being one of them.
(Vauxhall)
(Lab/Co-op)
On this International Day of the Girl, I stand in solidarity with
every woman and young girl fighting for their freedom—fighting
for the freedom to be heard, fighting for the freedom to live,
and fighting for the freedom to have an education and achieve
their ambition. We stand in solidarity with the women
in Iran The Minister
outlined the sanctions that the Government have taken so far
against the Iranian authorities, but how are they going to ensure
that the burdens of these sanctions do not fall on ordinary
Iranians, who are protesting at the killing of their sisters and
girls?
The hon. Lady makes a very good point. Today is the International
Day of the Girl, and many of us have been celebrating at events
today, which is why this is a shocking reminder of the repression
faced by women in Iran To many young
girls, it is a shock that this goes on in the world. All the
measures we have taken are there to apply increasing pressure and
to say that the Iranian people are speaking and their leaders
must now listen. These protests are very clear and their voices
must be heard.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
I do not know whether other Members share my concern that
Opposition Members’ anger about what is happening
in Iran is not reflected
in the number of Members on the Government Benches—perhaps the
lunches with the Prime Minister are overrunning. These protests
reveal a thriving opposition among Iranian people, despite the
oppression they face. How is the UK building relationships with
civil society in Iran If the regime
falls, these people may go on to lead the country.
I understand that there is a lot of activity on delegated
legislation at the moment, so the hon. Lady will be delighted to
hear that that is all going through. Of course we continue to
build our relationships in Iran at many different
levels. We are all very concerned by the human rights abuses, and
at all appropriate opportunities we will increase and build those
relationships to ensure that we can continue to take action, with
the international community and with our partners
in Iran
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
Mahsa Amini was, of course, a Kurd. Many of those joining
protests in Glasgow and Edinburgh are of the Kurdish community,
and we should celebrate the contribution that that community
makes to life on these islands. What discussions has the Minister
had with her Home Office counterparts on cases such as family
reunion and expediting asylum interviews, given the current
situation in Iran
I have regular conversations with the Home Office and the
consular team on many different cases, but it would not be right
to discuss those here.
(Leeds Central) (Lab)
The sheer bravery of all the women and girls who have taken to
the streets of Iran to fight for their
freedoms is inspirational to all of us in this House. Does the
Minister agree that the oppression that they face has nothing to
do with so-called religious observance, and everything to do with
that age-old problem of men trying to tell women what they can
and cannot do?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. It is
also fair to say that we should congratulate the men who have
joined those protests. We have all observed that and very much
welcome it. It is a very important part of the change.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
Of course, Mahsa Amini is her legal name, but her family name—her
Kurdish name—is Jîna. We have to recognise that, because the
Kurdish community in Iran are among the most
persecuted groups. My hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South
West () has already asked about
expediting asylum cases, but I will ask the Minister again. There
are many people in our communities who are from a Kurdish
background and, indeed, who are Iranian human rights activists.
What are the Government going to do to expedite these asylum
claims, given the barbarity of the regime that we are now
witnessing?
Of course, Iran must cease its
indiscriminate bombardment of Kurdish towns, which has led to the
loss of innocent lives and damaged civilian infrastructure. Those
wholly unacceptable attacks are a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity, and they demonstrate a repeated
pattern of Iranian destabilising activity in the region. We are
acutely aware of that and are working to improve the
situation.
(Kingston upon Hull North)
(Lab)
May I get the Minister to confirm that there are currently no
legal or safe routes for any woman fleeing persecution
in Iran to enter this
country and claim asylum?
I will reply to the right hon. Lady in writing on what legal and
safe routes are available.
(Bristol South) (Lab)
As has been said, it is the UN International Day of the Girl
Child, so I think that highlighting the myriad challenges that
girls face should have been at the front and centre of the
Minister’s response. Those women in Iran are
an inspiration to girls across the world. Beyond commenting on
sanctions, the Minister has not said much about how the
Government are supporting wider civil society. I would be
grateful if she could consider what further efforts the UK
Government could make to support those incredibly brave girls and
women in Iran
I totally agree with the hon. Lady. There is, of course, much
activity and we will continue to work to do all we can and to
celebrate the UN International Day of the Girl Child, as I know
many of us have done today.
(Putney) (Lab)
This is an important debate on the International Day of the Girl
Child. Many women constituents have written to me, inspired by
the protests in Iran and shocked at the
murder of Mahsa Amini. I stand in solidarity with those women
protesters. I have a 22-year-old daughter. She is able to wear
what she chooses and to protest as she chooses. She would not be
in fear of being beaten up and murdered in prison. Has the
Minister considered expelling the Iranian diplomats—this cannot
be business as usual—and what more would have to happen before
she did so?
Of course, as the hon. Lady will have heard in my statement, we
have not continued with business as usual. As of yesterday, 10
October, we have announced new sanctions on senior security and
political figures in Iran and the so-called
morality police. We have sanctioned the morality police in their
entirety, including their chiefs. We have taken some actions. We
know that there will be other discussions with international
partners, and obviously we keep things under review.
(Luton North) (Lab)
I welcome the heartfelt contributions from both sides of the
House, praising the bravery of the women and girls protesting
in Iran yet, sadly, on
International Day of the Girl, we are seeing women’s rights being
eroded in Iran and across the
world. Will the Minister give a guarantee that any woman or girl
fleeing Iran due to these human
rights abuses will not be put on a plane to Rwanda if they seek
refuge in this country?
We are there to support the rights of women and girls all across
the world, and we will continue to do so through our work with
the UN and others.
(Brent North) (Lab)
The irony is that this is a regime, which, since 16 September,
has killed at least three further young people in an attempt to
prove to its population that it did not kill Mahsa Amini. The
reduction of sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets would
serve only to strengthen the regime and turbocharge its
repression of young people such as Mahsa Amini. What assessment
have the Government made of the attempt by President Biden to
revive the Iran nuclear deal,
which would lead to such a reduction in sanctions?
We have also always been clear that Iran’s nuclear escalation is
unacceptable. It is threatening peace and security and
undermining the global non-proliferation system. We have kept
that matter very separate when we consider our actions in both of
these cases. We have always been clear about that.
(Nottingham East) (Lab)
Zahra Sedigi Hamadani and Elham Choubdar are two LGBTQ rights
activists who have been sentenced to death in Iran Amnesty
International says that they were targeted because of their real
or perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity and their
social media activities in support of LGBTI communities. Will the
Minister commit to raising those cases with the Iranian
Government demanding a stay of execution and the immediate
release of the activists from detention?
I can confirm that I am aware of those cases and that they are
under consideration.
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
The Iranian regime is guilty not just of routine brutality
against its own people, but of exporting terror and supporting
despotic regimes and terrorist organisations in a whole raft of
countries. The people who are protesting in Iran have provided an
inspirational example to all of us, but there will be many others
who are considering joining those protests but are frightened to
do so. It would send a very powerful message if the Minister
could come to the Dispatch Box and tell us in response to the
question from the right hon. Member for Chipping Barnet () what she is doing to
build those relationships with potential alternative leaders
in Iran Can she tell us
more and offer hope to those potential protesters that the UK
Government will support those who can show a better future for
the people of Iran
The British Government have a policy of not officially making a
decision on that. Their choice is for Iran’s Government to be a
matter for the Iranian people. We make sure that we support
opposition groups in Iran but we do not
support any one group in particular.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for her response. According to a report from
the National Council of Resistance of Iran 400
protesters from largely female groups have been killed and 20,000
arrested during the four weeks of nationwide protests. This House
must send the strongest condemnation of those killings and mass
arrests. Does the Minister recognise the Iranian people’s right
to self-defence and resistance in the face of the deadly
crackdown that particularly targets women and their right to
establish a democratic republic?
Yes, as I have said many times, we strongly condemn the Iranian
authorities’ crackdown on protesters and journalists and on
internet freedom as well. They must respect the rights of their
people and release those who are unfairly detained, and there
must be a free, fair and transparent investigation into the death
of Mahsa Amini.
(Leeds North West)
(Lab/Co-op)
I do not know whether the Minister saw Beth Rigby’s interview
this weekend with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, but it was a
gut-wrenching and emotional interview. In it, Nazanin said that
what has happened to Mahsa Amini brings back memories of how
helpless people are when they are in custody in Iran She also said
that,
“the world cannot turn a blind eye”,
to what is happening in Iran The Government
must act on human rights abuses. The uprising we see
in Iran is supported by
civil society organisations not just in Iran but
among the Iranian diaspora around the world. What support are the
UK Government giving to the Iranian diaspora here and its civil
society organisations, as well as those in Iran
Of course it would bring back memories, and that interview showed
us the plight that Nazanin found herself in for many years. The
Foreign Office will continue to work both on those individual
cases and within societies to ensure that we keep those
relationships alive, in order hopefully to defend the human
rights of everybody around the world.
Westminster Hall debate
on Baha’i Community in Iran
(Orkney and Shetland)
(LD)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the treatment of the Baha’i
community in Iran
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Betts. I
welcome the Minister to her position, and I am grateful that
there are a number of other colleagues in the Chamber. I chair
the all-party parliamentary group on the Baha’i faith; in that
regard, before I come to the meat of what I want to say, let me
place on the record the appreciation that I feel, and I know my
predecessors felt, for the work of the UK Baha’i Office of Public
Affairs. Dan Wheatley, in particular, and his various colleagues
over the years have been of enormous service to us all, and to
the Baha’i community in my constituency. Orkney and Shetland are
home to two small but very effective, warm and welcoming Baha’i
communities, which have demonstrated great fellowship to me and
my family over the years, for which I have always been enormously
grateful.
Persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran is
hardly new; it has been a feature of life for Baha’is
in Iran since the 1979
revolution. However, over the summer, we saw a sharp increase in
the number of innocent Baha’is facing persecution by the Iranian
state. It is unfortunate—it grieves me—that we have to bring this
matter to the House today, but I hope that those who are
suffering that persecution will take some comfort from hearing
reference made to it in this House. The people whose names I will
mention should understand that their suffering and persecution
are seen, and that they will not be ignored by those of us who
care about human rights for everyone.
Iran does not have a good record on human rights; I think that is
an uncontroversial statement across the Chamber. However, rather
than getting to grips with it, the country has in recent years
stepped up the oppression of its own people. From the arbitrary
detention of protesters to the persecution of the LGBTQ+
community and the second highest number of executions in the
world, there is a great deal about which we should worry in the
state of human rights and freedom in Iran I
do not want to touch on it at any great length, but it would be
remiss of me if I were not to mention what we have seen in recent
weeks in Iran In particular, we
should mourn the loss of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa
Amini, who tragically died in police custody after being detained
for alleged violations of Iran’s strict dress code.
It is in this context—that of a brutal regime—that we come to
Iran’s repression of the Baha’i community inside its own borders.
Iran’s religious minorities have suffered for too long at the
hands of the state. The Baha’i community of Iran has an estimated
350,000 believers, who have long faced systematic oppression
orchestrated by the Government. That alone merits discussion,
butthe alarming increase in persecutions of the Baha’i community
in recent months further shows the need to shine a spotlight on
the issue. This year, over the summer in particular, Baha’is
in Iran have faced what
The New York Times characterised as a “sweeping crackdown” on
their community. That new wave of suppression by Iran’s Ministry
of Intelligence has included unwarranted arrests of believers and
faith leaders, a deeply concerning rise in the confiscation and
destruction of property, and accusations that followers of the
Baha’i faith have acted as spies for Israel.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I commend the right hon. Gentleman for securing the debate and on
the hard work he does for the Baha’i community. I share his
concern for that community in Iran I believe
that Iran’s treatment of the Baha’i community serves as a litmus
test for Iran’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief. Does
the right hon. Gentleman agree that more should be done to stop
the arbitrary arrest of Baha’is on spurious allegations? That is
one of many ways in which the religious freedom of Baha’is is
violated, along with their other fundamental human rights.
Mr Carmichael
Indeed I do, and I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for the work
he does to promote freedom of religion or belief around the
world. He makes a very good point, and I hope to give some
context in reference to the situation in which the Baha’is
in Iran find
themselves.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
The right hon. Gentleman may be aware that people of the Baha’i
faith are banned from accessing higher education in Iran which is a sad
means of repression by the state. Does he agree that denying
access to education is Iran’s way of keeping Baha’i youth
isolated and powerless? Access to education is a vital right that
should be protected.
Mr Carmichael
I absolutely do. I am grateful to the hon. Lady for making that
point because it means that I will not need to say quite so much
about that subject and that I can continue to take interventions.
I am happy to take interventions, because it is important that,
when the record is printed, it is seen that this is not a tiny
concern but one that extends across the House.
(Newport West) (Lab)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr Carmichael
How could I not?
The right hon. Gentleman is making a powerful speech and it is
really important that our concern is placed on the record. I am
proud to be an officer of the APPG on the Baha’i faith. I hope
that he agrees that this House must continue to
hold Iran accountable for
its violations of the rights of its own citizens in the Baha’i
community, particularly during this global crisis. Will he join
me in urging the Minister to speak up and speak out, because we
need action now?
Mr Carmichael
Absolutely. In many ways Baha’is are low-hanging fruit—this issue
is not just confined to Iran but it is
particularly acute there—because they are a tiny religious
minority. As somebody who has campaigned on human rights for many
years, including before I came to this House as a Member of
Parliament, I know that that increases rather than diminishes our
obligation to draw attention to their plight.
We can do a lot as individual Members of Parliament, but I hope
that the Government, who speak for the country as a whole, will
take that message to heart in everything we say as a permanent
member of the United Nations Security Council and still, I hope,
a country to which the world looks as a force for good and as a
protector and, in many cases, a creator of human rights
legislation. People should understand that this issue matters to
Britain—not just to individuals but to our Government as a
whole.
While I am on the subject, I should place on the record my
appreciation for the remarks made by Lord Ahmad earlier in the
year. They were heard by the Baha’i community in this country and
beyond, and they were certainly very much appreciated.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
The right hon. Gentleman is being incredibly generous with his
time. I spoke to members of York’s Baha’i community just last
week, and they wanted to stress the importance of our Government
speaking out because the Baha’i community in Iran cannot. Their aims
are always altruistic and peaceable in serving their community.
Will the right hon. Gentleman comment on the fact that many in
the Baha’i community are unable to work in Iran because of the
suppression and suspicion that is placed on them when all they
want to do is serve like the rest of the population?
Mr Carmichael
A breach of human rights is a breach of human rights. It is
invidious to try to construct a hierarchy of human rights,
because the defining characteristic of human rights is that they
are universal. But one of my particular concerns is the pervasive
way in which the Iranian state persecutes the Baha’i community.
It is not just the persecution of their religious belief, but
their exclusion from education, the closing of their
businesses—there is persecution in a whole range of ways. That is
not an accident. It is a quite deliberate strategy that is
designed to persecute people simply because of their religious
belief. If we allow it to happen to the Baha’is, it will happen
to other religious minorities as well. If it can happen
in Iran it can happen in
just about any other country. When it comes to human rights and
freedom of religion, we are not safe unless everyone is safe.
The Baha’i International Community reported 125 separate
incidents of persecution in the first 10 days of August 2022
alone—a worrying development that signals a step up in the
regime’s attempts to crack down on an already heavily persecuted
religious minority. By 1 September, the number of incidents in
the crackdown had almost doubled to 245. I fear that it is
doubtless even higher today.
I want to highlight a number of developments that show the
breadth and depth of these changes. First, the regime has upped
its campaign against religious minority leaders in Iran by rearresting
three former members of the Yaran, the informal leadership
committee of the Baha’i community. Afif Naemi, Mahvash Sabet and
Fariba Kamalabadi have already served 10 years of their life in
prison for their service to the Baha’i community, and the Yaran
committee has been wound up, so all three have, in fact, retired
from roles of religious leadership.
Furthermore, the mass arrest of 26 Baha’is in the city of Shiraz
alone is exceptionally worrying. The number of Baha’is raided,
arrested or recalled to prison has increased significantly since
June.
(Halifax) (Lab)
I am grateful to the right hon. Member for giving way. He is
making a really powerful speech. I have been approached by a
number of people in my constituency who are incredibly concerned
about this crackdown and the human rights abuses right
across Iran It is
particularly worrying for those who belong to my Baha’i community
in Halifax. I thank them not only for bringing this to my
attention, but for the community work they do in Halifax. Reading
the information about what is happening in Iran
I found it particularly heartbreaking to learn of the arrest and
detention of parents of young children, leaving those children
without parental care. That demonstrates the impact this
crackdown is having on families and children in particular.
Mr Carmichael
This is where it becomes personal for us all. As a parent, I can
only imagine what it would be like to find myself under that sort
of pressure. It touches on my earlier point about the pervasive,
all-encompassing nature of the persecution of the Baha’is. They
find themselves excluded from just about every aspect of normal,
everyday life that we would take for granted. It is this element
of systematic oppression that is particularly concerning.
On 2 August 2022, Iran sealed off the
village of Roushankouh in the Mazandaran province, blocking off
road access by sending in 200 armed agents of the Iranian state.
Six homes were demolished by heavy equipment and 20 hectares of
Baha’i-owned property were confiscated, according to the Baha’i
International Community. Amnesty International reports that
villagers had their mobile phones taken to stop them filming,
while peaceful protesters were beaten and targeted with pepper
spray. That incident follows a similar demolition of at least 50
homes in the village of Ivel, also in the Mazandaran province, in
June 2021.
As the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West () mentioned earlier,
access to education is severely limited by the state. Most
Baha’is are excluded from the national entrance examination to
higher education institutions because their applications are
characterised as “file incomplete”—illustrating the way in which
bureaucracy can be used as a tool of religious oppression—as they
do not come from one of the four constitutionally recognised
religions. This year, as of August 2022, more than 90 Baha’i
students were prevented from enrolling in Iranian universities,
according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has further accused
believers of espionage and infiltrating education
institutions.
In 2020, Baha’i faith believers became unable to register for
identity cards for a similar reason to that given to those
applying for higher education. The option of “other religion” was
removed from the application form—an example of Iran cracking down on
even a hint of an already oppressed minority—and that has caused
real problems, as the Baha’is are not allowed to lie about their
faith.
Baha’i-owned shops have been another target of the Iranian regime
in recent years. Iranian authorities have systematically closed
Baha’i-owned shops without legitimate cause. We also have the
horrific situation of more than 1,000 Baha’is facing legal
hearings on false charges or being summoned to be put into
overcrowded prisons— something that is unjust and unsustainable.
But the cruelty does not stop there. In April 2021, Amnesty
International reported that authorities prevented Baha’is from
burying their loved ones in empty plots at a cemetery near
Tehran, insisting that they bury them between existing graves or
at the nearby Khavaran mass grave, a site related to the 1988
prison massacres. This ban was eventually lifted after mass
public outcry, but the fact that it was ever even imposed shows
the Iranian regime’s contempt for the Baha’is within its own
borders.
The explicit policy to take away the social and economic rights
of the Baha’is is driven by a memorandum from the Supreme
Revolutionary Cultural Council back in 1991, which was prepared
for the Supreme Leader to deal with what was termed “the Baha’i
question”. Just consider the use of that term, “the Baha’i
question”. This memorandum’s provisions say that the Iranian
Government should conduct their dealings with the Baha’i
community in such a way that
“their progress and development are blocked”.
As this shows, the recent sweeping crackdown is just the latest
in a long line of actions against believers of the Baha’i
faith.
The oppression of the Baha’is in Iran has,
however, been noticed and will continue to be noticed, and it
will be rightfully condemned by human rights campaigners, media
and Government. I welcome the comments of , who was quick to
condemn this summer’s developments, and I welcome the
Government’s commitment to working with international partners to
hold Iran accountable. I
hope that that will not be an isolated comment and that the
Government of this country will continue to call this out when
they find it. What we are witnessing in Iran today is not a new
development. The Baha’i community have faced an unjust assault on
their freedoms for decades, but it is deeply troubling to watch
this new intensification unfold.
For many years, Baha’i officers around the world have suggested
that the treatment of their community in Iran offered an
instructive litmus test on the sincerity of Iranian authorities
towards reform and respect for human rights. In addition to the
plight of the Baha’is, we witness a wider human rights crisis
engulfing Iran and taking the
lives of young Iranians, most notably young women. Iran has failed that
litmus test. The Baha’i community and all other persecuted
religious minorities across the globe deserve better. They
deserve our support. They deserve our actions and the actions of
our Government in calling out the actions of the Iranian
Government where they are seen. We will not ignore what is
happening. I hope that, if this is heard in Tehran, that is the
one message that they will take from today’s proceedings.
6.18pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Betts, I
believe for the first time. I am grateful to the right hon.
Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for securing this
important debate and making sure that this important message
continues to be heard. I also appreciate his dedication as chair
of the all-party parliamentary group on the Baha’i faith.
Let us be clear: Iran’s human rights record is deplorable. Human
rights violations are widespread and routine under President
Raisi’s Government. Freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and
women’s equal participation in society have been further eroded
in 2022, and the events of recent weeks, following the shocking
death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by Iran’s so-called
morality police, bring home the stark reality: women
in Iran fearing for their
lives because of what they choose to wear. Those who bravely take
to the streets to protest against this injustice do so at great
risk to their lives. I am in awe of them, and I know from the
previous debate and urgent question that many in this House are
as well.
Mass arrests and the mistreatment of detainees are common, trials
continue to be marred by irregularities, and individuals receive
little or no due process. The use of the death penalty is rampant
and on the rise. It is against that bleak backdrop that the
Baha’i community face a sustained campaign of persecution by the
Iranian authorities. The Baha’i community has long faced
systematic discrimination and targeted harassment
in Iran As the right hon.
Member said, acts of repression include the forced closure of
Baha’i-owned shops and businesses, pressure to convert to Islam
and the denial of education, which the hon. Member for Rutherglen
and Hamilton West () mentioned. Over recent
years, there has been a marked increase in the state identifying,
monitoring and arbitrarily detaining Baha’i people.
Alarmingly, Iran shows no signs of
stopping.
On 1 August, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence confirmed the
arrest of a number of Baha’i community members. That followed
credible reports in July, particularly in the Mazandaran
province, of widespread raids of Baha’i homes, forced demolitions
and property seizures. Since June, the community has reported a
marked uptick in arrests, including, as the right hon. Member
also mentioned, three former spiritual leaders, with some
detainees handed lengthy sentences. These reports point to one
conclusion: the Iranian authorities have made a conscious
decision to intensify the repression of the Baha’i.
While Iran’s constitution offers protection for some faiths,
there is widespread discrimination against minority religious or
belief groups. This experience is noticeably worse for
unrecognised faiths, such as the Baha’i. This Government share
the view of the UN special rapporteur on the human rights
situation in Iran namely that
discrimination against the Baha’i community is legally sanctioned
by a lack of constitutional recognition in Iranian law and the
absence of other legal protections. Recent reports
that Iran is carrying out a
campaign to persecute Baha’i followers in other countries—such as
in Yemen, through its links with the Houthis—highlight the
severity of Iran’s suppression of religious minorities.
As hon. and right hon. Members are aware, the UK Government are
committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all and
promoting respect between different religious and non-religious
communities. When we have concerns, we engage directly with
Governments at ministerial and official level, and we raise them
both publicly and privately. We have repeatedly expressed concern
at the ongoing repression of members of the Baha’i faith and have
taken the following steps. On 5 August, as outlined earlier, my
noble Friend issued a statement
condemning the detention of members of the Baha’i community
in Iran and reports of
forced closures of their businesses and land seizures. He made it
clear that the persecution of religious or belief minorities
cannot be tolerated and is a serious violation of international
human rights law.
The UK continues to co-sponsor the annual UN resolution on the
human rights situation in Iran and works with
international partners to ensure that it expresses serious
concerns about Iran’s mistreatment of members of minority
religious or belief groups, including the Baha’is. We will
continue to hold Iran to account for its
human rights record and have done so in relation to the crackdown
on girls, women and other peaceful protesters. On 21 September,
Lord Ahmad in his capacity as Minister for the Middle East called
for a rigorous and transparent investigation into Mahsa Amini’s
death and urged Iran to respect the
right to peaceful assembly. On 3 October, the Foreign Secretary
summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office. He made it clear that
instead of blaming external actors for the unrest, the Iranian
authorities should take responsibility for their actions and
listen to the concerns of their people. Yesterday the UK
Government imposed new sanctions on the morality police and two
of its leaders, as well as five individuals historically
responsible for the repression of protests. As the Foreign
Secretary has said, the protests send a clear message that
Iranian people are not satisfied with the path that their
Government have been taking, and Iran’s leaders must now
listen.
The UK continues to demonstrate its global leadership on freedom
of religion or belief in support of human rights in Iran and around the
world. In July, the UK hosted the international ministerial
conference on freedom of religion or belief, at which 47
Governments, international organisations and other entities made
pledges to take positive actions in support of that human right.
We will continue to build and strengthen coalitions with
Governments and civil society in order to promote and protect
freedom of religion or belief for all. This Government are
appalled by the treatment of the Baha’i community
in Iran and by the
crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. I assure the House that this
Government remain committed to defending freedom of expression
and freedom of religion or belief for all, and to promoting
respect between different religious and non-religious
communities. We will continue to hold the Iranian Government
accountable for their human rights obligations, and to take
action and encourage the international community to join us when
they do not.
I thank Members for this important debate, and I thank the right
hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland for securing it.
Question put and agreed to.
