The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling...

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the suspension of the death sentence on university professor Hashem Aghajari and for closer cooperation between the EU and the Islamic Republic in human rights issues. "Following the recent outbreak of strikes amongst university students protesting at the death sentence pronounced on Dr Hashem Aghajari for his speech reportedly urging Muslims not to blindly follow religious leaders, Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the death sentence against Dr Aghajari to be suspended and for Council and Commission to closely follow his case," according to a EP press release. "At the same time the resolution welcomes the holding of demonstrations without violence and recent reform proposals designed to promote democracy." "MEPs want to see closer cooperation between the EU and Iran with human rights issues taken up in talks with MPs from the Iranian parliament," it added.