House of Commons questions on Iraq and Iran

Two Scottish MP's raise questions on religious freedom in Iran, and human rights in Iraq, in the House of Commons 23 april.

• Posted on Apr 27, 2009

1)Iran: Religious Freedom
House of Commons / 23 Apr 2009 : Column 805W
http://tinyurl.com/c5bm3u

Ms Katy Clark: 'To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of freedom of religion and belief in Iran; and if he will make a statement.' [269999]

Bill Rammell: 'Together with our EU partners we continue to have serious concerns about the situation of all religious minorities in Iran. These groups suffer state-sponsored and systematic forms of intimidation and persecution. They face gross human rights violations such as arbitrary detention without charge and without access to lawyers, confiscation of property and denial of education. Such detentions are becoming increasingly common in Iran, and are cause for serious concern'.

2) Iraq: Human Rights
House of Commons / 23 Apr 2009 : Column 805W
http://tinyurl.com/c5bm3u

Mr. Sarwar: 'To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Iraqi government on reported human rights abuses in Kurdish controlled areas of northern Iraq. [270253]

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Human Rights in Iraq, Ann Clwyd MP, regularly raises human rights issues with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). During her most recent visits to Baghdad (1-2 March 2009) and the Kurdistan Region (20-25 March) she discussed with Iraqi and KRG Ministers and officials a range of issues including detention without charge; violence and discrimination against women; prison conditions and freedom of expression. Our Office in Erbil also has regular contacts with KRG Ministries and human rights defenders on these issues. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London has hosted two forums on human rights in Iraq since December 2008, involving Iraqi and KRG Ministers and non-governmental activists from the UK and Iraq.

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