Human Rights & Democracy The 2015 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

  

Human Rights & Democracy

The 2015 Foreign &

Commonwealth Office Report

Presented to Parliament

by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty

April 2016

Iran

2015 saw the welcome engagement of Iran with the rulesbased international system, reaching a potentially historic agreement that will impose strict limits and inspections on Iran’s nuclear programme. However, Iran’s human rights record continued to cause great concern. President Rouhani pledged to improve the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Iran when he was elected in 2013. He also promised reforms on discrimination against women and members of ethnic minorities, and on greater space for freedom of expression Iran

2015 saw the welcome engagement of Iran with the rulesbased international system, reaching a potentially historic agreement that will impose strict limits and inspections on Iran’s nuclear programme. However, Iran’s human rights record continued to cause great concern. President Rouhani pledged to improve the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Iran when he was elected in 2013. He also promised reforms on discrimination against women and members of ethnic minorities, and on greater space for freedom of expression

media sites are heavily restricted. Journalists, bloggers and human rights activists are regularly arrested and detained. In November, over 170 individuals were arrested for messages they published on social media apps.

Women do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as men in Iran and continue to face discrimination. For example, married women need the consent of their husbands to leave the country and can be banned from travelling abroad if their spouses do not sign the paperwork needed to obtain or renew a passport. In September, one of Iran’s best female football players, Niloufar Ardalan, was refused permission by her husband to travel to Malaysia for a tournament.

While some religious minorities are formally protected in the constitution, the reality is that many non-Muslims face discrimination and attempts by Muslims to change their faith may lead to criminal prosecution.  For example, there are regular reports of the arrest of members of Christian “house churches” and in 2015 a number of Baha’i-owned businesses were reportedly closed by the authorities for observing nonsanctioned holy days.

The UK continues to lead international efforts to encourage Iran to improve its human rights record. We continue to raise individual cases with the Iranian government, in addition to concerning trends such as the increase in use of the death penalty, juvenile executions, and continued persecution of religious minorities. The UK has also helped to maintain the listing of over 70 individuals under the Iran human rights sanctions regime.

The UK helped secure adoption of the UN General Assembly Third Committee Resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. The UK co-sponsored the Canadian-led resolution, assisting in drafting and agreeing the text. The resolution was passed by 76 votes.

FCO Human Rights and Democracy Programme projects supporting HRDs and creating platforms to support freedom of expression helped strengthen the foundations for change in country. We welcome the renewal of the mandate for the UN Special Rapporteur in Iran. We will continue to support this mandate and hope that Iran uses the opportunity to engage with the UN.

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In March, the HRC voted to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran for 12 months.  The more detailed text on Iran in UNGA Third Committee set out numerous human rights concerns, including the use of the death penalty and harassment of journalists.  The vote count in both cases was tight, as success on the nuclear deal affected the willingness of some states to make a stand on human rights.

In March, the HRC voted to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran for 12 months.  The more detailed text on Iran in UNGA Third Committee set out numerous human rights concerns, including the use of the death penalty and harassment of journalists.  The vote count in both cases was tight, as success on the nuclear deal affected the willingness of some states to make a stand on human rights.

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We repeatedly lobbied the Iranian authorities about the incarceration of seven Baha’i leaders in Iran and have spoken up about their shocking sentencing to 20 years’ imprisonment on charges of espionage, “propaganda against the regime”, “collusion and collaboration for the purpose of endangering the national security”, and “spreading corruption on earth”.  As we made clear in public statements, it is appalling that the Iranian justice system reinstated this original sentence after acquitting the leaders of several charges.