Iran lawmaker blames Euro MPs for trip cancellation

(TEHRAN) - A top Iranian lawmaker blamed Euro MPs for making an "irrational request" of meeting two jailed winners of 2012 Sakharov awards that led to Saturday's cancellation of their visit to Tehran.

A five-member European Parliament team had asked to meet during their six-day visit to Tehran jailed Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi -- winners of 2012 Sakharov awards.

"Unfortunately, the European Parliament by putting forward (such) irrational and unusual requests created obstacles for the trip," Kazem Jalali, a prominent lawmaker and head of Iranian parliament's relations with the European Parliament was quoted as saying on the Iranian assembly's website.

He said it was "neither acceptable nor rational to link the trip to the pretext of awarding prizes to those who have been convicted in a legal court as means for political propaganda."

The European Parliament's "unwise move" led to the cancellation of the delegation's visit to Tehran and it was the parliament that was "responsible for its repercussions," Kazali added.

A European source said the visit was cancelled after Tehran refused to let the delegation meet Sotoudeh and Panahi.

"The five MEPs were about to leave for Tehran when delegation chair (Tarja) Cronberg received a phone call from the Iranian ambassador to the EU, saying they would not be allowed to meet with the two Sakharov Prize winners," the European source said.

Sotoudeh, 47, is in jail serving an 11-year sentence for conspiring against state security. Panahi, 52, is under house arrest and has been banned from making films for 20 years.

Sotoudeh, a leading human rights campaigner known for her work representing opposition activists, and Panahi, acclaimed at international festivals for his gritty, socially critical movies, were jointly awarded the European parliament human rights and democracy prize on Friday.

Earlier on Saturday a top Iranian official said Tehran had rejected the delegation's request ahead of the visit due to start on Sunday.

Tehran had "rejected a pre-condition set by the European parliamentary delegation to meet with two prisoners," Hossein Sheikholeslam, international affairs adviser to the parliament speaker said, quoted by ISNA news agency.

Iran has cracked down on Sotoudeh and Panahi since its disputed June 2009 presidential election.