CSW welcomes Foreign Secretary's condemnation of Iran apostasy bill

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has condemned a draft bill currently making its way through the Iranian Parliament, which would codify the death penalty for apostasy.

David Miliband commented earlier in the week that he "deplore[d] the way in which the Iranian Parliament is... now discussing a draft penal code that would set out a mandatory death sentence for the crime, quote unquote, of apostasy."

He went on to say, "If adopted, [the legislation] would violate the right to freedom of religion, which is also an important basis of any civilised society."

Mr Miliband's comments on apostasy came as part of a wide-ranging attack on Iran's recent human rights record which he delivered to the House of Commons. He also highlighted execution figures which he suggested were "horrific" and assured his audience that he would continue to raise Iran's human rights violations with the Iranian authorities.

The draft bill being debated in Iran was initially approved at a first stage vote by the Iranian parliament last month, with 196 votes for, seven against, and two abstentions. The bill, named the Islamic Penal Code, is currently due to be sent back to the Legislative Commission for amendments before being brought before the Iranian parliament for a further vote.

Stuart Windsor, National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said: "We welcome the Foreign Secretary's strong stance on Iran's recent human rights record and particularly his comment on the nature of the draft bill. Such legislation, if passed, will almost certainly hold grave consequences for Christians and Bahais in Iran.

"CSW joins the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in urging the Iranian Parliament to drop this bill without delay."