Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Iran on the imprisonment of (a) Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and (b) other Christian prisoners of conscience.

​We have repeatedly expressed our concerns to the Government of Iran at the ongoing incarceration, and the shocking sentencing of Christians for practicing their faith. We welcome the recent release of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani following his unjust imprisonment, and urge the Iranian authorities to release anyone currently detained based upon their religion or belief.

While Christian minorities are formally protected in the constitution of Iran, the reality is that many non-Muslims face discrimination. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief. Defending persecuted Christians, and persecuted individuals of all faiths or beliefs, remains a priority for the British Government. We will continue to take action, both bilaterally and with the international community, to press Iran to improve its poor human rights record.

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