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CSW
UK News

Government condemns 'appalling' human rights in Iran after hearing plight of pastor

Speaking before fellow-MPs, the Democratic Unionist Party's Jim Shannon called upon the UK to urge Iran to ensure Yousef Nadarkhani and other believers are treated fairly.

He said: "Given that the UK has re-established ties with Iran, will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on human rights in Iran so that this House can urge Iran to ensure rights and religious freedom for all its citizens?"

Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested, along with three members of his church, during a series of house raids by security service personnel in the northern city of Rasht in May and accused with acting against national security.

He was previously acquitted in 2012 after being charged with apostasy and sentenced to death, while the three church members are currently also appealing sentences of 80 lashes each for drinking wine during a Communion service.

Responding to Mr Shannon, the leader of the House of the Commons, MP David Lidington said: "I think that no one here would say anything other than that the Iranian Government have an appalling human rights record.

"That is a matter of great sadness, given the richness and diversity of Iranian civilisation and culture, and the fact that the best Iranian cultural traditions actually accord respect to religious minorities.

"We will do all we can, through our diplomatic work, to encourage the Iranian Government to adopt the kinds of human rights standards that we would expect from a country with the rich civilisation that they have inherited."

Speaking last month, Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, an organisation promoting religious freedom, questioned the charges against the four men.

He said: "The spurious national security-related charges levelled against these men are illustrative of a continuing campaign by the authorities to penalise the Christian community for peaceably exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief."

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