Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of recent reports of the arrest of Baha’is in the Republic of Iran and the destruction of Baha’i homes in the village of Roushankouh.

The Baha'i community in Iran is systematically discriminated against, harassed, and is targeted by authorities. Credible reports in July of widespread raids of Baha'i homes, forced demolitions, and property seizures, particular in the village of Roushankouh in Mazandaran province, indicate that the Iranian government has this year redoubled repressive efforts against the Baha'i community. As the FCDO Minister responsible for Human Rights and Freedom of Religion and Belief, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, said on 5 August: persecution of religious minorities is a serious human rights violation and cannot be tolerated in 2022. I reiterated our commitment to holding Iran to account at a Westminster Hall debate on 11 October.