Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the forced closure of over 100 Baha'i shops in Iran during the first week of November 2016; and if he will make a statement.

The UK regularly raises human rights concerns with the Iranian government including the continued persecution of religious minorities and treatment of the Baha'i community. We are aware that the Iranian authorities have closed down a number of Baha'i businesses in response to them temporarily closing to observe Baha'i holy days on 1 and 2 November. This forms part of a worrying trend of persecution of the Baha'i faith in Iran. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.