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.

Protest gathering by of employees of importing and exporting Companies

 IRAN : Ardebil workers

 workers’s gathering

A number of Ardebil workers of importing and exporting Companies, protested the submission of Ardebil traffic sign manufacturing company to the rich individuals and influential gangs related to the government. These individuals, who have links to the government, force smaller businesses to bankruptcy by monopolizing the city sign manufacturing companies. They receive this deal because they have large assets and deep influences in government agencies.

IRAN:Attacks on political prisoners

Greetings on political prisoners

Installation of high-powered cellular phone jamming devices in prisons causes physical and health problems among prisoners

Gohardasht Prison

 NCRI - On Monday, Special Guards in Gohardasht Prison in the city of Karaj in Iran violently raided the section of the prison where political prisoners are being held and transferred a number of political prisoners to solitary confinement.

 

court in Iran : Answer protest low wages

  :  NCRI

Mine workers sentenced to flogging and priso

Read

 

Over the past two years over a thousand workers at Chadormalu iron ore mine, located in the central province of Yazd, held a series of gatherings and sit-ins protesting against layoffs and low wages  

Joint Press Statement by Iran and the global powers on parameters of the nuclear deal

Iran FM Zarif and Federica Mogherini during a press conference in Lausanne :

Following 9 days of marathon discussions in Lausanne Switzerland, Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini spoke at a news conference in Lausanne University reading the statement in Farsi and English.

 

Officials: Agreement on nuke deal but not on disclosure

Iran and the P5+1 have decided on a statement without disclosure:

 

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) Apr 2 - Iran and six world powers have agreed on the outlines of an understanding that would open the path to a final phase of nuclear negotiations but are in a dispute over how much to make public, officials told The Associated Press Thursday.
The officials spoke outside week-long talks that have busted through a March 31 deadline in an effort to formulate a general statement of what has been accomplished and documents setting down what the sides need to do by the end of June deadline for a deal.

Nuke deal: World powers, Iran reach crucial framework

The P5+1 and Iran have reached a framework agreement to curb Iran nuclear program:

 

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - After marathon negotiations, the United States, Iran and five other world powers announced an agreement Thursday outlining limits on Iran’s nuclear program to block it from developing atomic weapons and directing negotiators toward a final accord this summer.