Madam, - Through your pages I wish to protest most vehemently to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Last Tuesday, in the city of Mashad, a number of men were hanged for offences which included "homosexual acts".
I wish no disrespect to the Holy Koran, nor to the practice of Islam. However, under Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948-1998, adopted in the General Assembly of the UN, the human rights of individuals are unequivocally protected, regardless of whether national law or belief is in contradiction.
Iran was among the original 51 member-states that signed the UN charter in October 1945, ten years before Ireland did.
I notice very little official protest is made to Islamic governments about the cruel and unusual punishment meted out for sexual orientation which is actively protected in statute by many other member-states of the United Nations. Therefore, I wish equally to protest to the Irish Government about its complicitous silence on this issue. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID WILKINS, Kilmantain Park, Bray, Co Wicklow.