Written Answers. - Human Rights in Iran.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
22
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline his views on the human rights situation in Iran; if his attention has been drawn to concern expressed by Amnesty International regarding serious human rights abuses in that country; if a broadcast on Tehran Radio (details supplied) which stated that, following a meeting with the director of the Europe Desk of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Ireland's Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs expressed his pleasure at the satisfactory human rights situation in Iran based on the report by the United Nations special representative; if such sentiments were expressed by any representative of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Together with our partners in the Twelve, we have followed the evolution of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran closely for several years and have shared the concern of Amnesty International among others. We continue to do so.
As an expression of this concern, Ireland voted in favour of all the relevant resolutions at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly. Since 1986 we have consistently co-sponsored these resolutions along with a majority of our partners in the Twelve. At the 1989 session of the Commission, all our partners for the first time joined in co-sponsorship.
Mr. Galindo Pohl, who was appointed Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights in 1987, has gradually succeeded in eliciting the formal co-operation of the Iranian authorities in the discharge of his mandate. Last autumn, those authorities extended the first invitation to him to visit Iran and undertook to allow him all the facilities needed for the preparation of his report, including access to alleged victims of human rights violations. The report submitted to the 46th Session of the Commission on Human Rights earlier this year on foot of Mr. Galindo Pohl's visit was, therefore, of particular interest.
This report, which is referred to in Deputy Gilmore's question, presented a mixed picture. It did not remove our concerns about serious human rights violations in Iran. The testimony received from witnesses included complaints about,inter alia, unlawful executions, torture, imprisonment beyond the period specified in the sentence and the absence of counsel for the defence. On the other hand, the report recorded, for example, that the position of the Baha'is had improved in practice, that the Iranian authorities were receptive to some of the Special Representatives 33 recommendations and that allegations that political prisoners had been executed under false charges of drug trafficking were unproven.
I do not consider that the report reflects a satisfactory human rights situation in Iran. I am, nevertheless, encouraged by Iran's acceptance of a consensus resolution at the latest session of the Commission on Human Rights. This resolution reflects the mixed picture illustrated above; it seeks replies from the Government of Iran to all allegations of human rights violations transmitted to it; and it provides for continued monitoring by the commission of the country's human rights situation, including a further visit by the special representative.
I want to stress that Ireland's interest is not confined to the issue of co-operation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the UN in the matter of human rights, valuable though that can be; our interest is in seeing an end finally to violations of human rights in that or, indeed, in any other country. I believe that action by the UN can advance that objective.
When, on 16 May, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs met an Iranian official who was in Dublin for a meeting with the European Community Troika of Political Directors, he expressed Ireland's view of human rights in Iran along the lines I have just given. It is, therefore, not correct to say that he expressed his pleasure at the satisfactory human rights situation in Iran. Neither would it be correct to say that such a sentiment was expressed by any representative of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
