BAHA'I INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Early day motion 418, tabled 11 March 1999 by David Atkinson (Conservative). Signed by 124 members.

That this House notes the efforts of the Iranian Ministry of Information to close the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education in October 1998; further notes the raids on the homes of 500 Baha'is, the confiscation of material and teaching resources and the arrests of 36 faculty members, three of whom are still in prison; is aware that Baha'is are still denied access to state-run universities in Iran on grounds of their faith; observes that the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education provides the sole access to degree-level education for Baha'is in Iran; and urges Her Majesty's Government to bring to bear all diplomatic and political pressure upon the Government of Iran to allow Baha'is unhindered access to use their own educational institute and also to reinstate their right to study at state universities, and to press the Iranian authorities to give guarantees that they will respect the rights of the Baha'i community of that country to full access to education.

Signatures by party: Labour 64, Liberal Democrat 26, Conservative 19, UUP 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.