Iran said it was happy to discuss its stance on human...

Iran said it was happy to discuss its stance on human rights issues such as hanging with concerned European countries, but wouldn't change it.
"Talks on human rights can promote better understanding of cultural and religious differences," Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said at a joint news conference with visiting Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss. Deiss said Switzerland opposed the death penalty and had raised objections to practices such as hangings and stonings, but Kharrazi said Iran was bound by its adherence to Islamic law.
"For example, on hangings we said it is our Islamic law and we cannot change it. Through such talks we can further clarify the issues," he said.
At least 139 executions were carried out in Iran in 2001, most behind prison walls, up from 75 the year before, but the figures are based on documented cases only, London-based rights group Amnesty International has said.
Iran has strongly rejected tying human rights talks to negotiations over a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU. Deiss - whose country is not an EU member - said human rights discussions were not a precondition for developing ties between the two countries.