In response to a question asked by Brian O'Shea, member of Parliament for Waterford, about the imprisonment of the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, the Republic of Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheal Martin, stated that the Irish government is “extremely concerned about this sentencing and other signs of the continued and indeed worsening oppression of the Baha’i minority, including reports of the detention of other Baha’i community members, the denial of education and the violation of property rights. It would appear that the Iranian authorities are persecuting a minority for their religious beliefs and that they are actively trying to suppress that faith.” Mr Martin concluded, “Ireland will continue to call strongly for the immediate release of the seven Baha’i leaders and the end to the persecution of members of this faith in Iran, including through bilateral contacts, with our EU partners and at the UN.”