Iran: Ghoncheh Ghavami Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Iran: Ghoncheh Ghavami

Lord Phillips of Sudbury Excerpts
Thursday 4th December 2014

(10 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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When the noble Lord mentioned an orange box, I thought we were getting into Mosaic dimensions. Of course, we thank him for his contribution.

Lord Phillips of Sudbury Portrait Lord Phillips of Sudbury (LD)
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My Lords, does my noble friend accept that it is a delicate business to seek to interfere with the judicial and legal process of another country? However deplorable we know it to be, the law of Iran is the law of Iran. We must therefore act delicately, let us say, in seeking to assist this young woman.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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My Lords, we are certainly acting delicately. We all understand the delicacy of raising human rights issues with other countries. However, the human rights situation in Iran is dire. The periodic universal review of the Iranian position on human rights by the Human Rights Council, which is now under way, has raised a number of serious issues. Her Majesty’s Government contributed to raising those issues and we look forward cautiously to Iran’s response at the next meeting of the Human Rights Council in March 2015.