Iran's parliament voted a watered-down law defining...

Iran's parliament voted a watered-down law defining political offences in a bid to fix strict limits for judicial action.Acts such as giving a speech, publishing an article or criticising officials are excluded as offences under the revised law.In recent years, a number of reformist officials, student leaders and journalists have been targetted by the judiciary, a bastion of Iran's religious right, and handed tough sentences under the banner of political offences.A previous bill passed in June was rejected by the conservative-held Guardians Council oversight body on the grounds that it went against existing laws.In particular, the Council - which vets all legislation to measure conformity with Islamic law and the constitution - objected to an article stating that to "express an opinion on political, social, cultural and economic subjects and to criticise the actions of officials and institutions is not an offence."According to the new text, defined political offences include taking part in gatherings that "threaten state security", "insulting a visiting head of state", engaging in "propoganda against the regime in support of groups hostile to the regime" and "publishing state secrets". Also defined as an offence is "insulting the president or vice-president of the executive power, ministers, deputies, members of the Experts Assembly (which appoints Iran's supreme leader) and the Guardians Council."