WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3164/96 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN , Arie OOSTLANDER , Leen van der WAAL to the Commission. Death of the Christian leader Pastor Mohammed Bagher Yusefi on 28 September in Sari (Iran)
Date: 1996-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN, OOSTLANDER
Subjects: Iran, UNO, crime against individuals, human rights, judicial inquiry, political refugee, religious discrimination, religious group, report













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91996E3164

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3164/96 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN , Arie OOSTLANDER , Leen van der WAAL to the Commission. Death of the Christian leader Pastor Mohammed Bagher Yusefi on 28 September in Sari (Iran)  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0122 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3164/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE), Arie Oostlander (PPE) and Leen van der Waal (I-EDN) to the Commission (22 November 1996)Subject: Death of the Christian leader Pastor Mohammed Bagher Yusefi on 28 September in Sari (Iran)Is the Commission aware that on 28 September the 34-year old Christian Pastor Mohammed Bagher Yusefi was found hanged in a wood in the vicinity of his home in Sari, Mazandaran province, in Iran?Is the Commission aware that Pastor Yusefi had been under threat for a number of years because he had converted from Islam to Christianity?Is the Commission aware that Pastor Yusefi is the seventh Christian leader since 1979 to be persecuted and murdered for his religion in Iran?Can the Commission say what EU Member States are currently giving asylum to Iranian refugees persecuted because of their Christian religion?What is the attitude of the Commission itself towards Iran and these very serious violations of human rights, and what conclusions does it draw from this latest murder?Answer given by M. Marin on behalf of the Commission (6 December 1996)The Commission is aware that Pastor Mohammed Bagher Yusefi was found hanged near his home in Sari in Iran. It is also aware that threats had been made to him prior to his death, because of his change of religion from Islam to Christianity, which is considered as an offence under Koranic law.The Commission appreciates the difficult situation of minority religions, as demonstrated by the recent report of Mr Copithorne, special rapporteur on Iran for the United Nations commission on human rights.The question of the admission of Iranian refugees is a matter within the competence of the Member States. In many cases, Member States do not indicate the origin or status of refugees for fear for their security; therefore the Commission is not able to provide the information requested by the Honourable Members.The Commission supports the Presidency and the Member States in the United Nations commission on human rights. In any contact with the Iranian authorities, it stresses its concern for human rights in Iran. It contributes to the resolutions of the United Nations on human rights in Iran. Also, the Commission can encourage discussion of particular cases in critical dialogue between the Union and Iran.The death of Mr Yusefi appears to be under investigation by the Iranian authorities and suspects have apparently been arrested. When a result is known, the Commission will review the situation.