Vol. 427 No. 8
123 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the appalling treatment of members of the Baha'i Community in Iran highlighted in the Report on the Human Rights Situation in Iran by United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor Reynaldo Galindo Pohl; if he intends to take any steps to exert pressure on the Islamic authorities to respect the human rights of the Baha'is; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the report on the situation of human rights including the situation of the Baha'i community, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights by the Special Representative, Professor Reynaldo Galindo Pohl.
The Government have already taken steps to press for the improvement of the human rights of the Baha'is. Ireland is a cosponsor of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 10 March 1993.
That Resolution expresses concern at the special representative's criticisms of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including discriminatory treatment of groups of citizens because of their religious beliefs, and singles out the Baha'i community for particular mention in this respect.
The Resolution endorses the special representative's view that the international monitoring of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran should be continued. The Resolution also called on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate fully with the special representative and made clear its dissatisfaction that the authorities there have not permitted him to visit the country for more than a year. The Commission accordingly renewed his mandate and asked him to report again on the situation to the United Nations General Assembly next Autumn and to the Commission itself next Spring.
