Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1173. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to work with the organisation Church in Chains to help the release of Christian prisoners in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33142/14]
View answerMy Department works closely with the Church in Chains organisation which is represented on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights.
The situation of some Christian denominations in Iran, as highlighted by the work of organisations such as Church in Chains, is a cause of continuing concern. Some other religious minorities face similar persecution. It should be acknowledged however that a number of minority religious groups, including some Christian denominations, are specifically tolerated and protected under the Iranian Constitution.
The UN Secretary General’s report to the UN Human Rights Council in March of this year on the subject of human rights in Iran noted there had been no improvements in the situation of religious minorities, who continue to face violations of their rights which are entrenched in law and in practice. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran estimates, in his most recent report, that there were, as of January of this year, 307 members of religious minorities in detention in Iran, of whom 50 were Christians. He details a worrying pattern of persecution faced by Christians and other religious minorities and suggests that converts from Muslim backgrounds are most commonly prosecuted.
Ireland has repeatedly addressed the human rights situation in its bilateral contacts with Iran and in the relevant international fora. Just yesterday, at the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland expressed concerns about the persecution of some Christian and other religious minorities and our hope that the stated intention of Iran to improve human rights protection, an intention which we welcomed, will include these minority groups. Our concerns are also relayed directly to the Iranian Ambassador and Embassy on all appropriate occasions, including most recently at senior official level earlier this week.
Similar concerns regarding the plight of religious minorities were also expressed in two separate statements at the March 2014 session of the Human Rights Council. In addition, my Department is preparing to participate in the upcoming Universal Periodic Review of Iran which will take place at the UN Human Rights Council later this year.
More broadly, recent months have seen a serious deterioration in the situation faced by minorities across the wider Middle East region which is cause for great concern. This is most obviously evident in the extreme brutality and lawlessness demonstrated by ISIS in neighbouring Iraq and in Syria which is utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. Threats and violence aimed at minority communities, including Christians and Yazidis, are intolerable, wherever they occur.
On the broader international plane, Ireland has worked at UN and EU level to promote resolutions and actions on the principle of freedom of religious belief, notably during our 2013 EU Presidency, and now as a current member of the Human Rights Council for the 2013-2015 term. Freedom of religion or belief is a major priority for Ireland as a Council member and we have played a central role in the negotiation of resolutions on this issue. Ireland attaches great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred.
