To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations directly or through the United Nations concerning the Ayatollah Khatami's public demand that leaders of the current protests in Iran must be executed.

We are extremely concerned by reports that the Iranian Government have set up special courts to deal with those arrested and have threatened harsh sentences. Ayatollah Khatami's comments are absolutely unacceptable and we urge the Iranian authorities to guarantee the lives and rights of those arrested in the post-election violence. These individuals must be protected from torture or ill-treatment, allowed access to their families, lawyers and any necessary medical treatment.

Along with our EU partners, we have strongly supported UN statements voicing grave concern about the use of excessive police force, arbitrary arrests and killings in the Islamic Republic of Iran and urging the Government fully to guarantee freedom of expression and assembly throughout the country.