Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterparts in Iran to (a) press for an end to the death penalty for charges of blasphemy and (b) support greater freedom of religion and belief in that country.

The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. On 8 December and 9 January, the Foreign Secretary ordered the summoning of Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK, to protest Iran's continued imposition of the death penalty on protesters. Lord Ahmad also raised the death penalty with the Iranian Charge d'Affaires on 20 December. Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a priority for the UK, including in Iran where religious minorities face systematic discrimination and harassment. In July 2022, we hosted the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London. As an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country Iran was discussed in a number of different sessions. We raise our opposition to Iran's use of the death penalty, and its dire record on freedom of religion and belief, at all appropriate opportunities, including through our Ambassador in Tehran.