Asked by Lord Scriven To ask His Majesty’s Government what
assessment they have made of reports that the Iranian regime is
carrying out executions against anti-government protestors. The
Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park) (Con) My Lords, I am sure that
the House shares the outrage expressed by the Foreign Secretary on
Thursday at the Iranian regime’s execution of protesters. Mohsen
Shekari and...Request free trial
Asked by
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
reports that the Iranian regime is carrying out executions
against anti-government protestors.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( of Richmond Park) (Con)
My Lords, I am sure that the House shares the outrage expressed
by the Foreign Secretary on Thursday at the Iranian regime’s
execution of protesters. Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard
are tragic victims of a legal system in which disproportionate
sentences and forced confessions are rife. The UK is working with
international partners to hold Iran to account, including by
sanctioning 10 judges and prison officials last week. Iran must
be in no doubt that the world is watching. It cannot continue to
unleash violence against its own people to stifle voices of
dissent.
(LD)
I thank the Minister for that Answer, but two brave 23 year-old
Iranians, standing up for democracy and women’s rights, have been
brutally murdered on jumped-up charges by those in power in Iran.
As the head of a Norwegian human rights watch body said, if these
executions are not met with serious consequences for the Iranian
Government, we will face mass executions of protesters. What
extra serious consequences will the Government inflict on the
Iranian regime?
of Richmond Park (Con)
I acknowledge, as I am sure we all do in different ways, the
breathtaking courage of protesters in Iran, particularly the
women, whose every act of defiance comes with the risk of extreme
persecution and even death. It is really something to behold.
The UK of course condemns Iranian government activities, not
least the executions that we are discussing now. Across
international fora, we are calling Iran out at every opportunity
and amplifying the voice of those protesters. We have condemned
the regime’s crackdown on protesters alongside G7 partners and at
the UN Human Rights Council, General Assembly and Security
Council. We are working alongside the US and partners to remove
Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and, on a
bilateral level, we continue to challenge Iran’s reprehensible
actions at every opportunity, including summoning Iran’s
representative in the UK to the Foreign Office on numerous
occasions.
On Friday 9 December, just a few days ago, the UK announced
sanctions on 10 officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison
systems, including judges linked to the revolutionary court,
which sentenced those two people to death. On 14 November, we
announced sanctions on 24 leading political and security
officials involved in the current crackdown on protesters. In
October, we sanctioned the morality police in its entirety, as
well as its leader and five other officials responsible for human
rights violations. We take Iran’s reprehensible actions very
seriously indeed.
(Con)
My Lords, I listened carefully to the Foreign Secretary’s
positive and forward-looking speech this morning, but there was
no mention of Iran at all. As my noble friend said, Iran is a
serious danger. I will make two points. First, the Minister
mentioned the commission on women’s rights. I understand that
there is a vote on Wednesday at the UN. Can he assure me that we
will vote the right way? Secondly, while he gave a long list of
what we have done, surely it is now time for us to proscribe the
IRGC. It has to be done.
of Richmond Park (Con)
My noble friend makes an important and powerful point. It is not
for me to discuss the proscription of individual cases. My
colleagues in the Foreign Office will have heard what he had to
say, which echoes what many others in this place have said on
various occasions. In relation to the vote coming up in the next
few days, I assure him that we will be voting the right way.
(Lab)
My Lords, although these executions are an outrage, they are not
the only judicial outrage perpetrated by the Government of Iran.
Will His Majesty’s Government pursue the injustice of extending
the sentence of the longest-serving prisoners of conscience in
the world—Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet, two women of the
Baha’i faith, aged 60 and 69—for nothing other than professing
their religion?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, the Iranian regime has a long, dark record of
persecution—not just of religious minorities but of the LGBT
community and, as has already been discussed, anyone who stands
up to the regime in any way. The atrocities which the noble
Baroness has just referenced are par for the course for a regime
which is beyond the pale in its actions towards anyone not part
of the mainstream establishment within Iran.
(CB)
My Lords, the Minister has emphasised that he is working with
international partners on this issue. What conversations have
been had with Pakistan and Armenia, both countries that voted at
the UN Human Rights Council against establishing an independent
investigation into these human rights violations? Have there been
any conversations in the light of the large amounts of ODA of
which these countries are in receipt, thanks to the British
taxpayer?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, I assume that these discussions are happening, but I do
not know as I am not party to them. I will convey the noble
Baroness’s question to the Minister responsible, who is not able
to be here today to answer this Question.
(LD)
My Lords, the barbarity of these public executions is obviously
also intended to intimidate the population of Iran. I share the
Minister’s admiration of the women and particularly the young
women there. Further to the immediate question about Resolution
S-35/L.1 to establish an independent international fact-finding
mission, I also noted that Qatar and the UAE abstained. What
discussions have His Majesty’s Government had with our allies in
the Gulf about their considerably mixed messages of support for
pro-democracy groups, especially concerning women and children?
What practical support will the Government provide to the
independent international fact-finding mission for it to have any
teeth whatever?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, discussions with representatives from Qatar, the UAE
and others are regular and ongoing. As I said in answer to the
previous question, these are not discussions that I have been
having, so I cannot provide an authoritative answer. I will
include a response to the noble Lord’s question in my follow-up
to the previous one.
My Lords, the news of the executions in Iran is deeply concerning
and heart-breaking. I declare an interest as someone who
originally comes from Iran and still has friends and loved ones
there. There are likely to be many more executions still to come,
with a dozen death sentences already issued. I would be grateful
if the Minister could outline what support the Government are
providing to Iranians in the UK who are seeking to ensure the
safety of loved ones in Iran.
of Richmond Park (Con)
As noble Lords will know, it is not always the case that those
who have been arrested and held by the Iranian regime contact the
UK Government and request support, either directly or through
their family. Where that support is requested, however, the UK
Government do everything they possibly can to exert pressure and
facilitate the speedy resolution of whatever the case is. I
cannot go into individual cases; there are one or two that I have
personally been involved in, and I can tell you that dealing with
the Iranian regime is incredibly difficult at every step of the
way, as the right reverend Prelate will know.
(Lab)
My Lords, was it not absurd that Iran was put on the UN women’s
commission in the first place, given its long record? Surely the
problem is that the Iranian regime believes that it is in an
existential fight for survival and therefore we—certainly on our
own—have no influence. In addition to the efforts that the
Government have set out thus far, what are we doing to isolate
Iran? Where, if any, are the pressure points which might
influence the regime?
of Richmond Park (Con)
The UK maintains a wide range of sanctions designed to constrain
Iran’s destabilising activity within the wider region. We work in
the multilateral fora to—as the noble Lord suggested—encourage
the world as much as possible to speak with one voice in
condemnation of Iran, with some success but not entirely. In
November, we supported a successful Human Rights Council
resolution establishing a mechanism to investigate the regime’s
actions, and we will work with partners to ensure that it
delivers for the Iranian people. In relation to the first point
that the noble Lord made, the truth is that there remains a place
in the international community for a responsible Iran: one that
respects the rights and freedoms of its people. Across
international fora and working closely with our partners, we will
continue to expose the regime’s appalling human rights
violations, pursue accountability and amplify the voices of the
Iranian people.
(Con)
My Lords, is it not very significant that members of the
Ayatollah’s own family have denounced these barbaric practices?
Should we not give real publicity to what has been said about him
by them?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My noble friend makes an important point. In the sewer that is
Twitter, the one shining light is its ability to transmit and
convey images of the really staggering bravery on the part of
these protesters. Without social media, it is very hard to see
how the world would be as awake to what is happening in Iran as
it is. Whenever I find myself feeling gloomy about the filth on
that social media site, I remind myself that it does have an
incredible role to play. These protests are a pivotal moment for
Iran. The Iranian people have made it clear that they will no
longer tolerate violence and oppression. The UK stands with
ordinary Iranians who are bravely risking their lives to demand a
better future. This is an authentic grass-roots call for change;
the regime has to stop threatening the lives of ordinary people
in Iran and elsewhere, including the UK.
(Lab)
My Lords, first, on Friday, did the Foreign Secretary raise with
the Iranian chargé d’affaires the question of threats to UK
nationals and people working in the free press in this country? I
asked the Minister about that last week. Secondly, what does the
Minister think of the Foreign Secretary’s speech today, in which
he said that it is not about
“dictating or telling others what they should do: we want to
balance a mutually beneficial relationship”?
Is this not sending mixed messages? Is it putting things like
trade above human rights?
of Richmond Park (Con)
Absolutely not. The UK’s position on Iran has been rock solid for
a very considerable time, and there is no question of the UK in
any way softening its approach to the behaviour of the Iranian
regime. The issue of Iran’s extranational activities,
particularly in relation to British nationals in the UK, was of
course raised. I discovered today that the noble Lord, Lord
Alton, has been sanctioned; I am not sure there is any country
that has not sanctioned him. I have to say, first, that this is a
tribute to his own relentless campaigning on human rights issues
in Iran and elsewhere, and, secondly, that I suspect the rest of
the House, like him, will treat such a move with the contempt it
deserves.
(CB)
My Lords, the present revolution, or resistance, in Iran results
from the cruel treatment of its brave women. The National Council
of Resistance of Iran, led by a woman, has put forward a 10-point
plan for democracy, which includes the absence of any sort of
religious rule—a secular democracy—freedom of belief for all, and
equal rights for women. Does the Minister agree that this is the
right direction of travel for Iran?
of Richmond Park (Con)
Absolutely. In Iran, the law already provides some protection—for
example, the Jewish community has
protection within the constitution. However, in reality it is
meaningless. If you are a member of the Jewish community in
Iran, you will at the very least keep your head firmly down. The
protection provided in law is not provided in practice, but of
course that plan is the direction of travel that we want. 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. As the Iranian people have made clear, that
institution is also intolerable. As noble Lords know, there were
suggestions that the morality police will be disbanded, and we
must hope that this is the case.
(LD)
My Lords, in response to my noble friend Lord Scriven’s question,
the Minister gave a list of very welcome actions taken by the
Government, but these executions are happening right now. They
have taken place over the past few days and are continuing, and
some of them are of children. Can the Minister say what extra
actions are going to be taken or are being taken in light of
these continuing atrocities?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, there are a whole range of activities and actions that
the UK can take bilaterally—which I have already mentioned—in
relation to sanctions and trying to squeeze those responsible at
the highest levels within the regime as much as possible, as well
as multilateral activity of the sort that I mentioned earlier.
There are Iranian protesters who look to the UK for safe passage,
and that is something we provide, but the system can no doubt be
improved in any number of ways. We take a measured approach to
engaging with both Iranian civil society and the diaspora here in
the UK. We are clear that, ultimately, choosing Iran’s Government
is a matter for the Iranian people, but we will do everything we
can to ensure that the Iranian people’s voices are heard.
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