Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2010
155 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the international community continues to monitor the situation in Iran with particular reference to the prosecution of peaceful protestors, including prominent academics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21275/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland and its E.U. partners continue to monitor closely the situation in Iran, including the prosecution of academics, students and others who protested peacefully following the 2009 Presidential election. I am gravely concerned about the detentions of these protestors, the denial of education to students found to be involved in the protests, and the mass trials and summary executions which followed the 2009 protests.
I have reported to the House on a number of occasions (most recently PQ 16557/10) on my concerns regarding the case of Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh, a dual US-Iranian national arrested in July 2009. Dr. Tajbakhsh's case was heard by an appeals court on 10 February and his sentence was set at five years for a variety of charges linked to the post-election disturbances in Iran. These charges have been strenuously denied by the US Government, which has called for his release. In a statement on Dr. Tajbakhsh's case on 1 December 2009, the EU Presidency described the case as "deeply worrying".
The latest reports are that Dr. Tajbakhsh was released on bail on 13 March for the Iranian New Year and allowed to return to his family and that his release period was further extended in early April. It remains to be seen whether he will be permitted to leave the country. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran, continues to work strongly on this case.
On a positive note, I welcome the release earlier this week of French academic Clothilde Reiss, who had been detained in Iran since last July and convicted of a number of serious offences after taking photographs of opposition demonstrations. Ireland raised Mme. Reiss' case directly with the Iranian authorities and added our voice to the many others calling for her release.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government and its E.U. partners will continue to monitor closely all suppression of dissent by the Iranian authorities. Senior officials of my Department have raised Dr. Tajbakhsh's case directly with the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland and have made clear our concerns at his sentencing. We will continue to bring cases such as Dr. Tajbakhsh to the attention of the Iranian authorities. We will also avail of every opportunity to express our concerns about human rights in Iran, both nationally and in an EU and international context.
