SDIR Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met in a televised session at 12:05 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Scott Reid, presiding.

It was agreed, — Whereas, this Subcommittee recognizes that on May 14, 2008 six members of an informal body known as the Friends that oversees the needs of the Bahá'í community in Iran were arrested and taken to Evin prison which is noted for its political prisoners wing;

Whereas, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights uncovered a confidential letter from Command Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Iran ordering the identification and monitoring of Bahá'í activities in October 2005;

Whereas, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights stated on March 20, 2006, that she "also expresses concern that the information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Bahá'í faith, in violation of international standards… The Special Rapporteur is concerned that this latest development indicates that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran is, in fact, deteriorating";

Whereas, the Bahá’í community of Canada is supportive of the six arrested individuals and to the thousands of Bahá’í they believed to have been killed, imprisoned, or otherwise oppressed in Iran, largely due to their religious beliefs;

Whereas, no explanation has been provided by Iranian officials for their detention;

Whereas, the existence of the draft penal code being debated in the Iranian Majlis (parliament) which contains provisions that violate international human rights and which would legitimize the persecution of religious minorities;

Therefore, be it resolved that in the opinion of this sub-committee Iran must either present legitimate and formal charges in the context of a transparent justice system against the six detained Bahá’í members and respect the rights or release them immediately and that Iran begin to respect the humanitarian worth of all of its citizens; and

Be it further resolved, in opinion of this sub-committee that Iran rescind all provisions that would extend, legitimize or provide legal justification for discrimination against Iranian minorities.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on International Human Rights report to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development that it:

Condemns the refusal of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to promptly release the results of the parliamentary and presidential elections of March 29, 2008;

Further condemns the efforts of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to engage in recounts that seemed intended to overturn the legitimate results of the parliamentary elections;

Condemns the violence and mass arrests perpetrated by the government of Robert Mugabe since the elections took place, which are threatening to prevent free and fair run-off elections for the presidency from taking place;

Calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, in particular members of the Movement for Democratic Change, which won the largest number of seats in the parliamentary elections and whose candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the first round of the presidential elections;

Calls for the full and independent investigation by international observers of the reported killing of opposition activists;

Condemns the decision by the government of Robert Mugabe to stop the distribution of food aid by international aid organizations and expresses its grave concerns about reports that political considerations affect the distribution of food aid; and

Congratulates the dockworkers of Durban for refusing to allow the unloading of an arms shipment aboard the An Yue Jiang, which had been destined for the military forces of Zimbabwe.

At 12:26 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:30 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Mario Silva moved, — That the Subcommittee undertake a study on the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan and elsewhere and hear further witnesses on this subject-matter.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

At 2:13 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.