European Parliament cancels trip to Iran over activists

[Gerald]

(Reuters) - A European Parliament delegation has called off a trip to Iran after a request to meet two jailed activists was refused.

The decision came after Iran's ambassador to the European Union said it was impossible to guarantee that the members of the European Parliament could meet jailed human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and filmmaker Jafar Panahi, the European Parliament said on Saturday.

The parliament awarded the two its Sakharov prize for human rights and freedom of thought on Friday.

"I deeply regret that permission to meet the Sakharov laureates was withheld. The European Parliament is nevertheless determined to continue its support for and involvement with the Iranian civil society," European Parliament President Martin Schulz said in a written statement.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...89Q0CS20121027


Note: Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:29pm EDT