Recent Event Highlights: Reports that an Iranian blogger has died in detention , Concern for Iranian human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh , Foreign Office Minister condemns executions in Iran , Foreign Office gives update on countries featured in Human Rights and Democracy Report , Iran's shameful abuse of human rights continues , Journalists' Day in Iran , and 15 more...
Created by ddgdipity on 08/03/2012
Last updated: 14/11/12 at 15:10
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Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has called on Iranian authorities to confirm what has happened to Sattar Beheshti.
Commenting on reports today that a young Iranian blogger has died in prison, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said:
"I am shocked at reports that Sattar Beheshti, a young Iranian citizen, may have died in detention in Iran. Beheshti's only crime appears to be advocating the defence of human rights on the internet. Tragically, we have seen many similar cases of Iranians being locked up and mistreated in prison for expressing such views. If these reports are true, this is yet another disgraceful attempt by the Iranian Government to crush any form of free expression by its citizens. The Iranian authorities have full responsibility for Beheshti’s welfare in prison and I call on Iran urgently to confirm what has happened to him.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=832705182
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt urges Iran to review her case.
Commenting on the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who remains imprisoned in Iran, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said:
“I am deeply concerned for the well being of Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Iranian human rights defender imprisoned in Iran. Last week, she was a worthy winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. I understand that she is on hunger strike in protest at the harassment of her family by the Iranian regime. I urge the Iranian authorities to cease the activities that have led Nasrin Soutoudeh to take this drastic step and to review her case and the baseless charges against her.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=829620782
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has commented on the execution of ten people in Iran on 22 October.
“I condemn the execution of 10 people on 22 October in Iran on drugs charges. The UK strongly opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and there are serious concerns – raised by respected actors across the world – that these individuals did not receive a fair trial and were tortured in custody.
Today the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, will present a chilling account of torture and executions in Iran. This shines a light on an appalling situation of which the executions on 22 October are only the most recent reminder and against which the international community has repeatedly spoken out. I again call on Iran to engage fully with the international community on improving its human rights record, to impose a moratorium on its use of the death penalty, and to fully comply with Iran’s own laws and constitution”.
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=826507182
The Foreign Office has published new reporting on 28 Countries of Concern, along with updates on the case study countries featured in the annual human rights report. The quarterly updates cover the period from July to September 2012.
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=823342382
Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned Iran's widespread abuse of its citizens' human rights as a "disgrace" and a "shameful indictment of Iran's leaders".
These include:
The hanging of four members of the Ahwazi Arab minority in secret in June for ‘enmity against God’. The fate of a further two men remains unclear. The six men, Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari, Mansour Heidari, Ali Sharifi and Amir Muawi were held for over a year and reports suggest they were denied access to lawyers and interpreters.
Just a few weeks later in July, a further five members of the Ahwazi Arab minority were sentenced to death, with a sixth man facing a 20 year prison sentence. Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri, Hadi Rashidi and Rahman Asakereh have reportedly been denied a fair trial and information on their convictions, and reports suggest they have been tortured in detention. Two of the men were forced to confess on Iranian state television and Iranian international broadcaster Press TV.
The hanging on 12 July of Safieh Ghafouri on a murder charge. She confessed under duress and her conviction is considered unsafe. She is reported to have been raped by multiple men in prison and led to the gallows under the pretence of being taken to the prison visitors room.
Continued persecution of other religious minorities, such as Christian Pastor Nadarkhani, sentenced to death for apostasy, and more recently Farah Hesami, a member of the Baha’I faith, arrested without being notified of her conviction by the Revision Court as required by Iranian law.
Denial of medical treatment to seriously ill prisoners (many serving excessive sentences on spurious charges), such as Pastor Behnam Irani and Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand.
The UK Government remains concerned about a large number of ongoing cases, such as Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, originally sentenced to death by stoning. Her fate remains unknown and her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian, has reportedly been tortured in prison.
The UK continues to press Iran to address its human rights record and fully supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Human Rights, Dr Ahmed Shaheed. The recent FCO Annual Human Rights and Democracy report made clear the UK Government’s ongoing concerns about Iran’s record. With EU and international partners, the UK continues to raise cases of particular concern with the Iranian authorities and we work closely with NGOs and human rights defenders to gather information on individual cases.
Commenting on the recent cases, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
“I am deeply disturbed by the human rights abuses perpetrated by Iran in recent months. The torture and sentencing to death of Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri and Hadi Rashidi, from the Ahwazi Arab minority comes less than a month after the secret execution in June of four other members of this minority group. This sets a very worrying trend. The shocking mistreatment in prison of Safieh Ghafouri and her sudden execution is yet a further example of Iran’s utter disregard for the most fundamental human rights.
“Sadly, these are not isolated incidents and many other Iranians are currently suffering at the hands of their Government. Iran’s continued, widespread persecution of ethnic minorities, human rights defenders and political prisoners is a disgrace and stands as a shameful indictment of Iran’s leaders. The Iranian Government should know that its systematic attempt to curtail the freedom of its citizens will not go unchallenged by the international community and only adds to its isolation. I call on Iran immediately to commute these death sentences, to stop torturing its citizens and to end the systematic persecution of its ethnic minorities."
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=803144682
Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned Iran's widespread abuse of its citizens' human rights as a "disgrace" and a "shameful indictment of Iran's leaders".
These include:
The hanging of four members of the Ahwazi Arab minority in secret in June for ‘enmity against God’. The fate of a further two men remains unclear. The six men, Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari, Mansour Heidari, Ali Sharifi and Amir Muawi were held for over a year and reports suggest they were denied access to lawyers and interpreters.
Just a few weeks later in July, a further five members of the Ahwazi Arab minority were sentenced to death, with a sixth man facing a 20 year prison sentence. Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri, Hadi Rashidi and Rahman Asakereh have reportedly been denied a fair trial and information on their convictions, and reports suggest they have been tortured in detention. Two of the men were forced to confess on Iranian state television and Iranian international broadcaster Press TV.
The hanging on 12 July of Safieh Ghafouri on a murder charge. She confessed under duress and her conviction is considered unsafe. She is reported to have been raped by multiple men in prison and led to the gallows under the pretence of being taken to the prison visitors room.
Continued persecution of other religious minorities, such as Christian Pastor Nadarkhani, sentenced to death for apostasy, and more recently Farah Hesami, a member of the Baha’I faith, arrested without being notified of her conviction by the Revision Court as required by Iranian law.
Denial of medical treatment to seriously ill prisoners (many serving excessive sentences on spurious charges), such as Pastor Behnam Irani and Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand.
The UK Government remains concerned about a large number of ongoing cases, such as Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, originally sentenced to death by stoning. Her fate remains unknown and her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian, has reportedly been tortured in prison.
The UK continues to press Iran to address its human rights record and fully supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Human Rights, Dr Ahmed Shaheed. The recent FCO Annual Human Rights and Democracy report made clear the UK Government’s ongoing concerns about Iran’s record. With EU and international partners, the UK continues to raise cases of particular concern with the Iranian authorities and we work closely with NGOs and human rights defenders to gather information on individual cases.
Commenting on the recent cases, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
“I am deeply disturbed by the human rights abuses perpetrated by Iran in recent months. The torture and sentencing to death of Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri and Hadi Rashidi, from the Ahwazi Arab minority comes less than a month after the secret execution in June of four other members of this minority group. This sets a very worrying trend. The shocking mistreatment in prison of Safieh Ghafouri and her sudden execution is yet a further example of Iran’s utter disregard for the most fundamental human rights.
“Sadly, these are not isolated incidents and many other Iranians are currently suffering at the hands of their Government. Iran’s continued, widespread persecution of ethnic minorities, human rights defenders and political prisoners is a disgrace and stands as a shameful indictment of Iran’s leaders. The Iranian Government should know that its systematic attempt to curtail the freedom of its citizens will not go unchallenged by the international community and only adds to its isolation. I call on Iran immediately to commute these death sentences, to stop torturing its citizens and to end the systematic persecution of its ethnic minorities."
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=803144682
Today is Journalists' Day in Iran. But in reality, Iran’s journalists have little to celebrate.
The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Iran fourth in the top ten most censored countries in the world, behind only Eritrea, North Korea and Syria. The Iranian Government heavily controls the media in Iran. Many state journalists work to propagate the regime’s half truths and lies. Being independent or asking questions of authorities is often dangerous. The Iranian Government heavily controls the media in Iran. Right now, around 42 journalists and 19 bloggers are imprisoned in Iran for so-called “crimes against national security”. They are often held in appalling conditions and subject to ill health. At least seven national newspapers and magazines were shut down in 2011. Even drawing cartoons can result in a conviction. Foreign outlets are targeted too. In recent months, staff and their families from BBC Persian and Radio Farda have been threatened and intimidated. Many websites are blocked and foreign satellite TV is often jammed.
Speaking today, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said:
“Being a journalist in Iran is often a dangerous job. The regime has made clear its intention to silence any alternative views and control the information which reaches the Iranian population - impossible in the modern age. The Iranian authorities have recently even banned domestic media from reporting on the poor state of the economy. Despite these restrictions, many brave Iranians continue to try to report the facts from and within Iran, often at significant risk to themselves and their families. I pay tribute to their bravery and their efforts to shine a light on the activities of their government. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right for all peoples. The UK will continue to call on the Iranian authorities to stop gagging Iran’s journalists, and we will work with our EU partners to sanction those responsible for human rights abuses in Iran.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=797768382
UKforiranians is concerned by the reports of the confirmation of a six-year prison sentence for Farshid Fathi, a Christian pastor in Iran.
UKforIranians is concerned by the reports of the confirmation of a six-year prison sentence for Farshid Fathi, a Christian pastor in Iran. We have no doubt that Fathi is being persecuted simply by the virtue of his faith. He has reportedly been in custody for 18 months, without a leave being granted. His treatment by the Iranian authorities is unacceptable and contravenes Iran's law under article 23 of Islamic Republic Constitution, as well as its international obligations to respect freedom of religion (article 18 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
We once again call on Iranian authorities to overturn sentences issued for Christian pastors Farshid Fathi and Yousef Nadarkhani and to stop the persecution of religious minorities including Baha'is and Christians.
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=792400182
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt expressed concern at the sentence handed to Iranian human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, saying the case highlights the callous disregard of the Iranian government for its people and the rule of law.
Speaking today, Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said:
"I am deeply concerned by reports of the re-sentencing of Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani to thirteen years in prison following an appeal. Soltani appears to have been targeted because of his efforts to defend the rights of political and human rights activists in Iran.
"This case highlights the callous disregard shown by the Iranian Government to its citizens, and to the rule of law. All people have the right to live in freedom and to express their opinions peacefully and freely.
"I call on the Iranian Government to overturn Abdolfattah Soltani’s severe and unjust sentence and stop the harassment of individuals campaigning for basic human rights for Iranians."
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=777147182
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt spoke about his concern after a surge in executions in Iran
Commenting on Iran's record of state executions, the Foreign Office Minister said:
"I am deeply concerned by the surge in executions in Iran. Reports indicate that Iran recently executed up to 63 people in one week. This shocking figure is a reminder of Iran’s already excessive use of the death penalty. I call again on Iran to review its death penalty policy, including the number and type of ‘offences’ that attract the sentence, often with scant regard to the right to a fair trial. I am also extremely disturbed by Iran’s continued persecution of homosexuals and reports that four individuals were recently executed on related charges. We will continue to speak out against Iran’s shameful record of executions, which has seen it execute more individuals per capita than any other country in the world in recent years.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=771683582
The UK urges Iran to respect the right to freedom of expression after cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye was sentenced 25 lashes.
An FCO spokesperson said:
"We are appalled to hear that the Iranian authorities have sentenced the cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye to 25 lashes for nothing more than depicting an Iranian MP in a cartoon. Charges should never have been brought at all for this innocuous act, but it is sadly not surprising given the government has consistently shown such flagrant disregard for its citizens rights and freedoms. We urge Iran to respect the right to freedom of expression in all its forms and revoke this sentence.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=763560982
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has called on the Iranian Government to overturn the sentencing of Mohammad Ali Dadkha.
He said:
“I am concerned by reports of the sentencing of Iranian lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah to nine years in prison. Dadkhah appears to have been targeted because of his efforts to defend the rights of political and human rights activists in Iran, including Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who was sentenced to death in 2010 for apostasy. The UK has already called for Pastor Nadarkhani's sentence to be overturned. Recent reports that two Iranians were arrested in Tehran in April for observing the Christian faith only add to our concern about the appalling human rights record of the Iranian Government.
“These cases are an all too frequent reminder that Iran continues to repress its own citizens' rights to freedom of expression and religion. I call on the Iranian Government to overturn both Dadkhah and Pastor Nadarkhani's unjust sentences and stop the harassment of individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs.”
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=763080082
Pastor Youcef Nardakhani, a Christian pastor from Rasht in Iran, was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for apostasy in September 2010.
Commenting on reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s death sentence will be upheld, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt said:
“I am very concerned by reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s sentence to death on alleged apostasy charges will be carried out imminently.
"As I have said before, it is absolutely clear that Pastor Nadarkani is being persecuted simply for following his faith. His treatment by the Iranian authorities is appalling and contravenes Iran’s obligation to respect freedom of religion.
I call again on Iran to overturn Pastor Nadarkhani’s sentence and release him.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=735194582
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said that such deplorable tactics illustrate the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and the desperation of the regime to silence any independent voices.
Speaking today he said:
"“I utterly condemn recent reports of Iranian officials harassing families of staff working at the BBC’s Persian service. The Iranian authorities have a shameful track record of using family members to put pressure on Iranian lawyers, journalists and human rights activists. Such deplorable tactics illustrate again the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and the desperation of the Iranian regime to silence any independent voices. This comes against the backdrop of intensified jamming of BBC Persian, and other international Persian language satellite broadcasts. The international community has repeatedly called on the Iranian authorities to cease harassment and intimidation of journalists and to prevent illegal jamming of broadcasts. We will continue to do so.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=725700782
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued the following statement on October 18 on sentencing of Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi and Iranian actress, Marzieh Vafamehr.
"High Representative Catherine Ashton was disturbed to learn of the 6-year prison sentence, confirmed after appeal, imposed on the prominent Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. The High Representative is also very concerned at the sentence of one year’s imprisonment and 90 lashes given to prominent actress Marzieh Vafamehr, following her part in a film referring to the difficult conditions in which artists operate in Iran.
The High Representative calls on Iran immediately to review both sentences and to put an end to the persecution – whether by detention or other forms of harassment - of these and other members of its artistic community. Such treatment is incompatible with the international human rights principles that Iran has freely signed up to: the use of corporal punishment - which amounts to torture - is incompatible with article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The right to freedom of expression through art and writing, is enshrined in Article 19 of the same Covenant."
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/news/531362882/664027282/catherine-ashton-stmnt-panahi-vafamehr
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement on October 8
"The High Representative wishes to express her concern over the 11 year prison sentence given to Iranian Human Rights Lawyer and activist, Ms Narges Mohammadi, a founding member and Executive Chair of Nobel Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi's "Centre for Human Rights Defenders" (CHRD).
The High Representative is also concerned about Ms. Mohammadi's health and the reports that she may not be receiving the medical attention she needs.
The High Representative has called on Iran numerous times to respect the work of human rights lawyers and activists. The sentence against Narges Mohammadi is yet another example of unjust persecution of those who show the courage and determination to stand up for human rights in Iran."
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/news/531362882/664027282/catherine-ashton-narges-mohammadi
Matthew Morris, Human Rights lead in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Iran Team blogs on the death penalty in Iran, a top country of concern under HMG’s Strategy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
Working as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Iran Team, focusing on human rights issues, I’m given many NGO reports detailing the large number of death sentences passed down and with news of new executions carried out daily across Iran. Troublingly, over the last 12 months in the job, the volume of those reports has increased steadily (there’s credible information Iran has now executed over 500 people this year).
At the same time, the nature of crimes that have warranted the death penalty, in the eyes of Iran’s judiciary, remains broad. As well as death sentences passed for the most serious of crimes, murder, in the last 12 months Iran’s judges and criminal courts have also sentenced people to death on narcotics and adultery charges, outside of international standards that limit the application of the death penalty for intentional crimes with lethal or other extremely grave consequences.
Furthermore, the judicial process remains shrouded in secrecy, with lawyers being arrested for speaking out about processes that don’t live up to Iran’s own legal rules, and with a serious lack of public information from both the courts and the executive. A recent example was the execution of Alireza Molla Soltani, a juvenile, who at 17 was executed in public in Karaj on 21 September using the barbaric method of suspension strangulation – in this case in front of a crowd of 15,000.
While there is no doubting the seriousness of the charges facing Soltani, Amnesty international have described many aspects of the case against him as “legally dubious” [insert link to http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=19703], not least the speed of his trial (including uncertainty over the appeals process), ambiguity over the defendants age and Soltani’s self-defence argument. For those across Iranian society, and in the international community as a whole who wish to see a more open and fair judicial system in Iran, this lack of transparency remains a cause for serious concern.
Our opposition to the use of the death penalty is rooted in the belief that this method of punishment is wrong: its use undermines human dignity, there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and most importantly, any miscarriage of justice associated with it is irreversible.
Through the United Nations, the European Union and through our contact with the Iranian government we continue to lobby for both a reduction in the number of offences to which the death penalty applies and in the number of sentences imposed, as well as greater openness.
The right to a fair, transparent and rigorous trial and a (genuine) right to appeal, particularly in relation to a capital crime, are no less than the Iranian people deserve.
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/news/531362882/664027282/20111010-matthew-morris-blog-wdadp
Foreign Secretary welcomes extension of list of human rights violators in Iran subject to EU sanctions
EU Foreign Ministers have today extended the list of individuals responsible for human rights violations in Iran who will be subject to EU-wide travel bans and asset freezes. Twenty-nine individuals in the Iranian regime have been added to the thirty-two Iranian officials previously agreed in April. Speaking today, the Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
“I welcome the EU’s agreement today to impose restrictive measures on a further twenty-nine Iranians responsible for grave human rights abuses. Those targeted include Government Ministers, members of the security forces, prison staff and judiciary responsible for serious human rights violations.
“In recent months the human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate. As we mark World Day against the Death Penalty we should recall that Iran has now executed over 500 people this year, including a 17 year old boy. The government has violently suppressed protests over the mismanagement of a lake in north-west Iran, and families of a number of journalists have been arrested and harassed. We will continue to identify and list those who seriously violate the human rights of the Iranian people. Today’s decision sends a clear message to every individual on this list, and others in the Iranian regime, that we will not stand by. They will be held to account for their actions and should not involve themselves in the appalling abuses we continue to witness.”
The EU announced these new restrictive measures on human rights violators in Iran, and calls for the release of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, film makers, women’s activists, bloggers, minorities and members of the opposition, who face harassment and arrests for exercising their legitimate rights’
http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/news/531362882/664027282/fs-euhr-violators
Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken following reports that Iranian Church Leader Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces a death sentence after refusing an order to recant his faith.
Speaking today the Foreign Secretary said:
“I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime’s continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=662412382
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said he was appalled at the execution of Alireza Molla-Soltani and called on the Iranian authorities to end these inhumane practices.
Speaking today the Foreign Office Minister said:
“I am appalled by the images of the public execution today in Iran of Alireza Molla-Soltani. He was only a 17 year old boy and to be subjected to one of the worst forms of execution, suspension strangulation, is abhorrent. This form of punishment has no place in the modern world. Iran’s own President Ahmadinejad has previously declared that Iran does not execute children under 18 years of age. To do so contravenes the international obligations Iran has signed up to. I call again on the Iranian authorities to end these inhumane practices.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=659252782
The Foreign Secretary gave the keynote speech at the ‘Imprisoned in Iran’ event organised by The Times newspaper, in association with human rights NGOs.
At the event on 13 September, the Foreign Secretary met Iranian human rights defenders who have had to flee Iran, especially in the last two years, and British and international civil society groups and journalists who have been campaigning to highlight human rights abuses in Iran.
Speaking at the event, the Foreign Secretary paid tribute to those working to improve the human rights situation in Iran. He underscored the UK’s commitment to human rights at the ‘irreducible core’ of our foreign policy and his intention to ‘shine a spotlight’ on Iran’s human rights record.
The Foreign Secretary outlined the role of the UK and other governments in working alongside media and civil society to promote human rights in Iran. He said ‘it is up to Iranians to determine the future of their country – but Britain will be resolute in standing up for their human rights… We will not forget those imprisoned in Iran’.
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=655260782
Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has spoken after reports that three men in Iran were made to stand on a bus before being hung from a bridge.
He said:
“I am horrified by the public execution of three men in Iran. Hanging from a bridge, in front of a crowd of onlookers, is shocking and barbaric. It contravenes international standards on the implementation of the death penalty, to which Iran has voluntarily signed up. I call on Iran to ensure that all punishments, including for the most serious crimes such as rape, are in line with these standards to prevent prolonged suffering and degradation. The UK condemns the death penalty in all circumstances.”
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=634869382
Foreign Secretary William Hague: "The continued efforts of the Iranian authorities to stifle inconvenient voices and to disregard essential rights are truly disturbing."
Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
“In recent weeks many female activists in Iran have been arrested and imprisoned on vague charges. These include photographer Maryam Madj, film-maker Mahnaz Mohammadi, journalist Zahra Yazdani, women’s rights advocate Maryam Bahrman and Mansoureh Behkish arrested following her work with the ‘Mourning Mothers’.
“These women join a host of journalists, bloggers, students and human rights defenders in prison, along, in some cases, with the lawyers who have sought to defend them. The continued efforts of the Iranian authorities to stifle inconvenient voices and to disregard essential rights are truly disturbing. Women whose conscientiousness and achievement should be celebrated, are instead behind bars. It is another sign of Iran claiming to support increased openness and reform in the Middle East, while doing anything but that at home.”
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=624434682
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt calls on the Iranian authorities to release immediately all those detained yesterday and in the past two years for simply exercising what should be legitimate freedoms.
Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt said:
“Yesterday, large gatherings of Iranians marked the second anniversary of the disputed 2009 elections with silent and peaceful protest, and were again met with repression by the Iranian authorities. There are deeply worrying, credible reports of arrests and violence against protesters. I am struck by the courage of those ordinary Iranians who continue to stand firm against attempts to beat them into silence, exemplified by journalists such as Hoda Saber, whose death yesterday following a hunger strike in prison shocked Iran. As the Foreign Secretary said yesterday, the Iranian regime’s feigned support for those demanding their rights elsewhere in the region is belied by its brutal crackdown on freedoms at home.
“I call on the Iranian authorities to release immediately all those detained yesterday and in the past two years for simply exercising what should be legitimate freedoms. I also call on the Iranian authorities to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation into the deaths of Hoda Saber and human rights activist Haleh Sahabi.”
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=614440282
Foreign Secretary William Hague has made a statement on the anniversary of the 2009 Iranian presidential elections.
Speaking today, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
"Two years ago we saw the Iranian people take to the streets to dispute the results of the 2009 Presidential election and demand representation reflecting the will of the people. They were ultimately denied this, but we all remember the scenes of Iranians pouring onto the streets in peaceful protest to demand their civil and political rights. Two years later we have seen similar demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab World; protests that the Iranian regime now claims to support. This feigned support is all the more disturbing when we consider what has happened in Iran since 2009. There has been a brutal crackdown on all those who freely and peacefully sought to express their views and a concerted attempt to silence any opposition. And now there is plenty of evidence that Iran is exporting these same repressive techniques to its long time ally Syria, as Syria's rulers brutalise their people to cling to power.
"It is not in our conscience as a nation to stand by as people are stoned, locked up for defending their rights under their constitution, or beaten on the streets by hired thugs. Two years after people took to the streets to demand reform, I want it to be known that our attention has not been diverted and we will continue to call on Iran to implement its international human rights obligations."
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=613116182
Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has condemned the continued detention of opposition politicians in Iran.
Speaking today the Foreign Office Minister said:
“I condemn Iran’s continued detention of opposition politicians Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. They have now been held for over 100 days and claims that this is for their own safety have no credibility. Mr Mousavi, Mr Karroubi and their wives have not been allowed to communicate with the outside world or to see and speak to their children. This is nothing more than an crude, cruel and illegal attempt to silence opposition by any means.
As the Foreign Secretary said on 1 March, this is a flagrant breach of Iran’s human rights obligations and shamelessly hypocritical given Iran’s claim to support freedoms and human rights elsewhere in the region. A number of prominent figures and clergy in Iran have also called again for their release in the last few days. I again call on Iran to release Mr Mousavi and Mr Karroubi immediately, and respect their rights under Iranian and international law to freedom of association and freedom of expression.”
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=602501882
Minister Alistair Burt says UK condemns the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
Speaking today Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said:
"I am appalled by reports that four men in Iran were publicly executed by suspension strangulation on a beach in Bandar Abbas on 20 April. I am concerned by the reports that two of the men were juvenile offenders. The United Kingdom condemns the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Death by strangulation and the execution of juvenile offenders are particularly abhorrent.
Iran has already executed almost 200 people this year – more than any other country in the whole of 2010 except China. This is a worrying statistic and a further sign that the Iranian regime is systematically undermining the rights and lives of its own people. I call on Iran to cease the use of the death penalty."
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=590302782
Foreign Secretary, William Hague calls on the Iranian judiciary to review the case and to cease persecution of the Baha’i faith.
Commenting on recent retrial of the Baha’i in Iran, the Foreign Secretary, William Hague said:
“I was deeply disturbed to learn that the seven Baha’i spiritual leaders in Iran have been re-tried in secrecy and had their original 20 year sentence reinstated.
“In August last year, I made clear that we believe the leaders are fully entitled to practise their faith. I stand by what I said then, and once again call on the Iranian judiciary to review the case and to cease persecution of the Baha’i faith.
“I am also concerned by the reports that the seven are facing physical threats from other inmates and guards in the prison they have been moved to. This is yet another example of the Iranian authorities disregard of the legitimate rights of the Iranian people. While restating that I do not believe there are adequate grounds to detain the leaders, I urge the Iranian authorities to ensure their safety while in custody, and provide them with full legal rights under Iranian law.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=579047482
Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the Iranian authorities to release both men immediately.
“I am deeply concerned by reports that Iranian opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have been moved from their houses, where they have been under house arrest for two weeks, to an Iranian detention centre. I call on the Iranian authorities to release both men immediately.
“I am particularly concerned given the inexcusable calls by Iranian parliamentarians for Mousavi and Karroubi to be executed. The eyes of the world remain on the plight of opposition figures in Iran even as we respond to events elsewhere in the region.
“If confirmed, this is a flagrant breach of Iran’s human rights obligations and shamelessly hypocritical given Iran’s rhetoric about support for peaceful protest in the region. Freedom of expression and assembly are universal and inalienable rights that lie at the heart of progressive societies. We condemn Iran’s continued attempts to repress these rights.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=559049182
Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken following protests in Iran on 14 February.
The Foreign Secretary said:
"I have seen reports today of peaceful demonstrators being assaulted by Iranian security forces. President Ahmadinejad last Friday told the Egyptian people that they had the right to express their own views about their country. I call on the Iranian authorities to allow their own people the same right and to ensure that the security authorities exercise restraint."
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=551457982
Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the UK will raise concerns over her case with the Iranian Government in the strongest terms.
“ I was appalled to learn that Zahra Bahrami, a dual Dutch-Iranian citizen, was executed by Iran over the weekend. Our thoughts are with her family.
I was particularly alarmed that no consular access was given to Ms Bahrami, that her family learnt of the execution through the media and that the execution appears to have taken place before the charges against her were examined fully by a court. We have called on Iran many times to ensure due process in line with its domestic and international obligations.
The Dutch Foreign Minister called it an act of ‘barbarism’. Bahrami’s execution comes against a backdrop of an increasing number of executions in Iran, a trend that I and the European Union have recently condemned. We will raise our concerns over her case with the Iranian Government in the strongest terms. This tragic development serves as a reminder of the risks that can face dual nationals travelling to Iran”.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=542737582
Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt called for Iran to stop using the death penalty.
“I condemn today’s execution in Iran of Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj-Aghaie. They were arrested during the unrest that followed the 2009 election and I am particularly concerned by reports that they were executed for political offences.
“There has been an alarming rise in the number of Iranian executions since the start of the year. More than 60 people have been put to death – more than two every day – and annually Iran executes more people than almost all other countries combined. The use of cruel and inhumane methods such as suspension hanging and public executions is reprehensible. I again call on Iran to cease using the death penalty.”
http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=538939782
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