Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2018
34. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ambassador to Saudi Arabia can make representations to the authorities there regarding the escalation in the persecution of the Baha'i in Yemen and in particular the possible public execution of a person (details supplied) for their religious beliefs. [40119/18]
View answerI am aware of reports of increasing harassment and detention of members of the Baha’i community in Yemen on account of their faith. I am also aware of the specific case referred to by the Deputy, of a Baha’i individual who has been sentenced to death by the Houthi de facto authorities. While we do not have all the details of the case, I am concerned that this person appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs. Ireland calls on all parties in Yemen to immediately release all Baha’i detained due to their religious belief, and to cease the harassment to which they are subjected.
Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. The promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief is and will continue to be a priority for Ireland’s engagement on human rights issues. Ireland is also unequivocal in our position regarding the universal abolition of the death penalty. Most recently, at the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council, we reaffirmed our strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and for all cases, expressing our deep concern at its continued use by States.
Ireland has regularly raised our concern regarding the persecution of the Baha’i at the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly. Most recently, Ireland raised concerns with regards to the persecution of the Baha’i at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2018 during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
While Ireland’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is also accredited to Yemen, the Irish Government does not have any contact with the Houthi de facto authorities, against whom the accusations have been made of the persecution of the Baha’i community. Unfortunately, the Government is not in a position to make representations to non-state actors in Yemen in relation to their actions. We have therefore focused our efforts on this issue in multilateral fora, to increase international awareness of the issue.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation closely, and will remain in contact with representatives of the Baha’i community in Ireland, who are represented on the Department of Foreign Affairs Committee on Human Rights, and with whom they have discussed the situation of Baha’i in Yemen, and
