Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief of Christians in Iran; and what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief of people in Iran who have converted to Christianity (a) in the UK before and (b) after having been returned to Iran from the UK.
Answered on
18 October 2018
The treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran is concerning. The latest report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran published in September 2018 describes discrimination faced by religious minorities, such as the denial of access to university and to employment opportunities, discriminatory access to basic services including health care, and underrepresentation in public affairs. We regularly raise human rights with the Iranian Government, including the treatment of Christians in that country, and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.