Asked by
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
recent events in Iran and the impact of those events on women's
rights in that country.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con)
My Lords, the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran is a shocking reminder
of the repression faced by women in Iran. I am sure I join all
noble Lords in commending 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 urge
Iran to listen to its people, exercise restraint, lift internet
restrictions, release unfairly detained protesters and ensure
women can play an equal role in society. The position of the
United Kingdom Government is clear: through our words, our
sanctions and indeed our work with international partners we will
hold Iran to account.
(LD)
My Lords, I agree with the Minister. The bravery of the women of
Iran, especially the very young women, is highly inspiring. Does
the Minister agree that this is the wrong time for the World
Service to be closing its Persia radio service? It is a
technology which is highly relied on in times of difficulty. As
the Minister said, with digital repression, moving to a wholly
digital platform will not offer the kind of support that this
service does. The Government put forward emergency funding for
Ukraine for the World Service in the spring, so will they step
in? If the difficulties in Iran escalate then we may be in a
position where we have to offer safe refuge for women in Iran.
Will the Government start preparations now for a resettlement
scheme, so we do not repeat the errors of previous schemes with
delays in having them up and running?
(Con)
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord about the important role
the BBC plays both in Iran and elsewhere in the world. Although
it is operationally and editorially independent from the
Government, we recognise that the BBC World Service plays a very
important role. The FCDO is providing the BBC World Service with
over £94 million annually for the next three years, supporting
services in 12 languages. Of course, I hear very carefully what
the noble Lord has said. BBC Persia itself and the journalists
have suffered great suppression. We have spoken out very clearly
and loudly against that suppression as well.
(Con)
My Lords, I support what the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, has said
about rights for women and declare my interests as in the
register. When the Minister next meets a counterpart from Iran,
will he point out to them that even Saudi Arabia is liberalising
dress restrictions and has confined the religious police to
barracks, and that Iran is in danger of becoming more restrictive
even than Saudi Arabia? Will he not agree that, if the president
of Iran wants it to be believed that wearing the hijab is a
personal choice, he should not insist that western journalists
interviewing him in New York wear the hijab?
(Con)
I agree with my noble friend but I would go further. It is not
the president of Iran; Islam states that it is a woman’s choice.
It is the religion that gives women the choice. We cannot have
coercive practices. It is a woman’s choice as to whether she
wears the hijab, the niqab, or no hijab or niqab at all. That is
what should prevail in Iran and elsewhere.
(Lab)
My Lords, in his initial Answer the Minister said that the
Government would hold the Government of Iran to account for their
treatment of women. How does he propose that the British
Government do so?
(Con)
I have great regard and respect for the noble Baroness, who has
played an important role on women’s rights across the world,
including in Iran. Specifically on this point, only yesterday we
sanctioned further individuals, particularly those in the
morality police. We are working in conjunction with our key
partners, including the United States and the European Union,
because acting together we can not just limit Iran but restrict
it and show it that we mean business in this sense.
(Con)
Events on women’s rights in Iran are not acceptable to anyone in
the world. Iran should learn the lesson that women have equal
rights with men. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, reminded the
world five and a half centuries ago that women are to be not
degraded by men but looked upon as those who give birth to all,
men and women, kings and the poor.
(Con)
My Lords, I agree with my noble friend. Indeed, all the major
faiths put women at their heart. The first person in Islam to
accept the Prophet Muhammad’s mission was a woman. He was working
for her. She employed him. She proposed to him. In
Christianity—my children go to Catholic school—mother Mary has an
esteemed and respected status. In all religions and faiths, women
are central, pivotal guides and figures. All people around the
world, if they claim to follow a particular religion or faith,
should live up to that living example of their own
scriptures.
(CB)
My Lords, with teenage girls being beaten to death in the streets
for protesting, I press the Minister to agree that now is not the
right time for the World Service to scrap its Persian radio
service. Digital services are all very well, but if internet
access is blocked or restricted, as in Iran, the radio can be a
lifeline. Can the Minister say what the Government can do about
the disturbing increase in harassment by the Iranian authorities
of the families in Iran of London-based BBC Persian staff?
(Con)
I have already alluded to the noble Baroness’s second point; we
have called that out specifically. I have heard very clearly from
both the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, and the noble Baroness about
its importance, and I assure your Lordships’ House, as the
Minister now responsible for our relationship with Iran, that
this is something I will take back. I will update the House
accordingly.
(Lab)
My Lords, the Minister mentioned the sanctions against the
morality police, and I welcome them. He said he was liaising with
other countries. Can he tell us how many other countries have
adopted exactly the same policy? On his point about faith groups,
and following on from the FoRB conference, what are we doing to
amplify the voices he mentioned to ensure that we isolate
radicals? It is not simply faith groups that are articulating
these sorts of practices. Amplify those voices.
(Con)
My Lords, the noble Lord knows that I totally agree with him. I
often hear that we need to give women a voice. For God’s sake, if
I may say so in this place, we are living in 2022; women have a
voice. They have a clear and pivotal role to play in every
society and country. When women are central to any society or
country, it prospers. It is not me saying this; the evidence
suggests so. The noble Lord is right: whether it is freedom of
faith, of religion or of belief, we must ensure that all voices
stand up and that women play the pivotal, progressive and
necessary role that the world needs. Whether it is conflict
resolution or society’s progress, women must be at the heart and
soul of every country.
of Childs Hill (LD)
My Lords, the Revolutionary Guard’s violent oppression against
dissidents inside Iran has long extended beyond Iran’s borders.
This summer’s attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie, last year’s
attempted kidnapping of Iranian women’s rights activist Masih
Alinejad and numerous foiled plots are only the tip of the
iceberg. The Revolutionary Guard represents a present danger to
anyone the Iranian regime believes is a threat. Does the Minister
agree that now is the time to proscribe the Revolutionary Guard
to protect civilians outside Iran as well as those within
Iran?
(Con)
I agree with the noble Lord about the destabilising activities of
the IRGC. Under our sanctions policy, about 78 sanctions on Iran
are in place, including those restricting the destabilising
activities of the Revolutionary Guard. I note what the noble Lord
says about proscription, but he knows that I cannot give him that
assurance at this time. We keep all issues such as proscribing
organisations on the table. I will reflect on the noble Lord’s
comments, and I am sure that others will as well.
(CB)
My Lords, I commend the bravery and resilience of the Iranian
women, and I commend the men who are standing shoulder to
shoulder with them. I welcome the Government’s sanctions on the
morality police, but will they really be effective? How many of
them will travel to the UK or hold assets here? Could we extend
these sanctions to more senior political figures, and to other
sectors—for example, by working with sporting bodies to ban
Iranian athletes and sporting teams from competing in
international competitions? Would that be more impactful?
(Con)
My Lords, I first welcome the noble Baroness. I have not yet had
an opportunity to answer a question from her, so I welcome her to
this House. I also welcome her insights on this matter and other
issues. She raised the important issue of alignment, which the
noble Lord, Lord Collins, also mentioned. We are working with the
United States and other key partners, including the European
Union, on sanctions policy—when we act together, it is more
effective. The noble Baroness raised a number of other areas
where we can perhaps also act. I cannot speculate, but we will
keep all options under consideration.
