QUESTIONS
Cheryllyn Dudley MP
5 August 2013
ACDP Member of Parliament and Chief Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley, is to pose the following question to the Minister of International Relations:
· Whether South Africa has made any representation to His Excellency Hassan Rouhani President of Islamic Republic of Iran concerning Saeed Abedini (known as Saeed Abedinigalangashi in Iran);
· Whether any diplomatic intervention is possible in view of the fact that Iran has unconditionally accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a signatory to the international civil, economic, and cultural covenants;
· Are we correct in our understanding that Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights holds all signatories accountable to honoring their citizens’ freedom of religion and religious expression?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Saeed Abedini - a young father who is currently being held in ward 350 of Evin Prison in violation of both Iranian and international law. Mr. Abedini has been sentenced to eight years in prison because his participation in peaceful religious gatherings in private homes was viewed as a threat to Iran’s national security. According to the Iranian Constitution he possesses the legal right to exercise his Christian faith, which includes the right to freely worship God in a peaceful gathering.
Iran has also unconditionally accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a signatory to the international civil, economic, and cultural covenants. Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights hold all signatories accountable to honoring their citizens’ freedom of religion and religious expression. Iran has also obligated itself to respect the peaceful assembly of religious minorities within its borders.
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