Baha'i News: Debate highlights dangerous escalation of religious persecution in Iran

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Debate highlights dangerous escalation of religious persecution in Iran
http://news.bahai.org/story/880


LONDON, 13 January 2011 (BWNS) – Members of Parliament here have sharply 
criticized Iran for its human rights violations, focusing especially on the 
"steep rise" in the persecution of religious minorities.

In a debate held at Westminster Hall on Wednesday 11 January, MPs highlighted 
the fact that virtually every religious minority in Iran is now facing 
oppression.

Some 19 MPs, representing the UK's three major parties, participated in the 
debate.  

Watch video coverage of the debate: 
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9743
Read a transcript of the debate: 
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2012-01-11a.109.1

In the opening speech, Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside, described the 
persecution of Baha'is as "pervasive and escalating dangerously."

"The repression takes a number of forms in an ongoing and systematic 
persecution," said Mrs. Ellman. "It means arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and 
the denial of access to higher education and areas of employment. The homes and 
businesses of Baha'is have been subject to arson attacks, cemeteries have been 
destroyed, and children have been harassed."

She also expressed concern over the 20-year prison sentences being served by 
seven Baha'i leaders and Iran's continuing effort to bar young Baha'is from 
higher education.

Noting remarks made recently by Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire, Mrs. Ellman 
said that it "is extremely important that the world does not wait until there 
is a genocide. It should heed warning and take further action to put pressure 
on the Government of Iran to stop what they are doing." 

Participants also raised the issue of the increasing persecution of Christians 
in Iran. Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire, reported that at least 
eight Christian leaders have been murdered since 1979, and expressed particular 
concern over the case of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death 
for apostasy in 2010 and has since been the focus of an international outcry.

Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough, spoke of "regular raids on gatherings" of 
Christians, "harsh interrogations and torture...including demands for the 
recantation of faith and for information on the identities of fellow 
Christians; detention for long periods without charge and other violations of 
due process; convictions for ill-defined crimes or on falsified political 
charges; the economic targeting of the Christian community through the demand 
of exorbitant bail payments; and the threat of imminent execution of a 
house-church pastor." 

Regarding Iran's Jewish community, Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, reported 
"increasing evidence that anti-Semitism is growing there, and that the small 
Jewish community there is being blamed for the actions of the Israeli 
Government."

At the end of the debate, Alistair Burt, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of 
State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said that while 2011 showed that 
demands for human dignity are irrepressible, Iran is moving in the opposite 
direction. 

"Human rights are universal," said Mr. Burt, "and Iran's failure to meet its 
obligations is punishing and stifling the fulfilment of the wishes and 
aspirations of millions of people."

Mr. Burt assured those present that the UK will continue to press other 
countries to support resolutions expressing concern over Iran's human rights 
record in the United Nations and at the Human Rights Council.

Dr. Kishan Manocha, Director of the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha'i 
Community of the United Kingdom, has welcomed the wide ranging discussion. 

"The fact that such a good number of MPs, representing all parties, 
participated really reflects a high level of concern about Iran's human rights 
record, and especially its rising religious intolerance," said Dr. Manocha.

"We are, of course, pleased that Baha'is were prominently mentioned," Dr. 
Manocha added. "But we are also happy that UK Parliamentarians are focusing on 
the problems faced by other religious minorities. We need to speak as one on 
the situation of religious intolerance in Iran."






To read the article online, view photograph and access links, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/880

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