Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Iranian government on its approach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; what recent representations he has received on the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

The UK is concerned by the continued persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Iran. In May 2013, the upper house of the Iranian Parliament adopted a new Islamic Penal Code, which continues to criminalise sex between adults of the same sex. The punishments can range from 100 lashes to the death penalty for both men and women. It is also against Iranian law for same sex people to touch and kiss, and for people to cross dress.

The UK has repeatedly called on Iran to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect the human rights of all Iranians.