A/HRC/10/8/Add.1 page 27 deprived of their liberty, refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, children, persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and migrants, as regards their ability to freely exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief”. Urgent appeal sent on 17 September 2008 95. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government information she had received regarding the Iranian Parliament vote on 9 September 2008 in favour of a bill stipulating the death penalty for apostasy. Reportedly, the Iranian Parliament voted on Tuesday 9 September 2008 in favour of a bill stipulating the death penalty for apostasy. The approved bill will be sent back to the Legislative Commission to debate proposed amendments before it is brought before the Iranian Parliament for a further vote. Reportedly, the bill would add a number of crimes to the list of those resulting in execution, such as the establishment of weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy. 96. If the proposed legislation on apostasy passes unchallenged through the final parliamentary processes and is enacted into law, Mr. Mahmoud Mohammad Matin-Azad and Mr. Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat, two Christians from Muslim background, may as a result face capital punishment. Both men were recently charged with apostasy at the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz and have been in detention since 15 May 2008. 97. In addition, Mr. Ramtin Soodmand, who works for a church in Tehran, was arrested on 20 August 2008, following a phone call from Ministry of Intelligence officials telling him to report to the Ministry in Mashhad, north-east Iran. Although Mr. Soodmand told the officials he saw no reason why the officials in Mashhad wanted to interview him as he lives in Tehran, he eventually agreed to go. Since then, Mr. Soodmand has not been seen. His family has visited the Ministry of Intelligence frequently but has been unable to obtain any information about Mr. Soodmand’s whereabouts or legal status. Although no charges have been laid against him yet, it is feared that he is detained solely for his religious beliefs and that the approval of the above mentioned bill may have adverse consequences on his situation. 98. The Special Rapporteur urged the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to take all necessary measures to guarantee that the rights and freedoms of Mr. Mahmoud Mohammad Matin-Azad, Mr. Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat and Mr. Ramtin Soodmand are respected. She also requested that the Government ensures the compatibility of any new legislation adopted by the Iranian Parliament with international human rights law. Observations 99. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning the above mentioned allegations. She would like to refer to General Assembly resolution 63/181 which urges States to “step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and to this end to ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or arbitrary arrest or detention”.