Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about the unlawful detention, torture and execution of prisoners, including Navid Afkari.

Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable and the UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. We also consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to challenge it wherever and whenever it occurs. We call on Iran to uphold its commitments under international law to protect freedom of assembly and speech, and treat all detainees in line with international standards. We regularly raise human rights with the Iranians at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.