Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
347. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights situation in Iran; if he has raised his concerns with the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17155/20]
View answerHuman rights issues are an important part of Ireland's engagement and dialogue with Iran. The human rights situation in Iran is very worrying, with routine violations of human rights including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary arrest, and torture of detainees. There are numerous and credible reports of torture of those detained in Iranian prisons. Ireland opposes the use of the death penalty whenever it occurs and, while I note that there has been a significant fall in the number of executions in Iran since 2017, I remain shocked by the regular use of the death penalty, particularly in respect of minors.
Ireland raises human rights issues with Iran at every suitable opportunity. Most recently, in February 2020, during political consultations in Tehran, senior officials from my Department again directly communicated our concerns regarding human rights.
Ireland also addresses these issues in international fora such as the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Most recently, at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland called on Iran to ensure full respect for its international human rights obligations and take all necessary steps to protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
Ireland also raised concerns about the continued harassment, arrest, and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders in Iran during the Universal Periodic Review of Iran’s human rights record in November 2019.
The EU consistently pursues human rights issues with Iran, including the right to due process for all, as part of overall engagement with Iran. Since 2011, the EU has also had in place restrictive measures related to violations of human rights, which both list individuals and entities responsible for grave human rights violations; and ban the export to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications.
Ireland and the EU will continue to monitor developments in Iran, and, whenever opportunities arise, to call on the Iranian Government to make progress in relation to human rights.
