Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the case of the continuing imprisonment in Iran and repeated trial on charges which carry the death penalty of Mohammad Ali Taheri.

The case against Mohammad Ali Taheri demonstrates Iranian disregard for freedom of religion and belief. Religious minorities continue to face restrictions in Iran and we receive many reports of arrests, discrimination and harassment.

I raised concerns about the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities during my visit to Iran on 5 August. We will continue to take action with the international community to hold Iran to account in this regard.