Madrid, Nov 29, IRNA -- Condemning the death sentence issued against university professor Hashem Aghajari, the head of Iran's Islamic Human Rights Commission said here Friday that the said verdict is not only against Islamic and Iranian law, but also against Iran's national interests.

A court in Hamedan has issued a death sentence, as well as banishment in cities on margin of Iran's central deserts and being banned from teaching at universities for ten years for allegedly insulting the Prophet and the fundamentals of the Shia religion.

Ayatollah Bojnourdi who is in Spain to take part in a human rights conference along with Tehran Constituency MP Dr. Elaheh Koulaei answered IRNA correspondent's questions on the matter.

Bojnourdi said, "if I were the judiciary chief, I would have immediately fired the judge who issued this controversial verdict, that can neither be justified based on Islamic laws, nor based on the civil codes of Iran."

In response to a question on negative effects due to the issuance of the death sentence against Salman Rushdie, and whether Ayatollah Bojnourdi thought that verdict, issued by the late Imam Khomeini, too, had been issued ignoring Iran's national interests, he said, "the two issues are quite incomparable and your question is therefore irrelevant."

"All prominent Islamic clergies of the time, including the Sunni Alims throughout the Islamic world approved of Rushdie's death sentence, since he had really insulted the Prophet (PBUH), and the penalty for that offense is definitely death," he said.

Agreeing that Aghajari has committed a crime and has to be punished for it, he said, "I was the first one to object to Aghajari's remarks in the press, but as one who has a record of serving the judiciary for ten years I tell you a verdict that has no supporter among the country's lawyers is definitely against laws."

He also reminded the IRNA correspondent that according to our Islamic beliefs, a judge is meanwhile responsible for the verdicts he issues before God, and that the death penalty against Aghajari is definitely unjustifiable.

Ayatollah Bojnourdi reminded our correspondent of the historic fact that during the late Imam's days, many individuals deserved the death sentence, but his eminence pardoned them, arguing that safeguarding the very existence of Islam is our greatest responsibility.

IRNA correspondent asked if every one would be permitted to insult the fundamentals of Islam inside Iran, and be left unpunished, will anything remain of religion?

Ayatollah Bojnourdi said, "as I said earlier, I was the first one to object to Aghajari's remarks, and I do not favor pardoning him, but the death sentence cannot be justified. I say why should we move in a direction that would cost us dearly? Whatever we had done with him, save for condemning him to death, would not have raised any criticism inside and outside Iran."

He added, "I know as clear as day that Aghajari will not be executed. Why then did we have to pay such a heavy cost for the issuance of that illegal verdict?"

IRNA asked, "do you really believe this verdict is issued against the Islamic codes and civil laws of Iran?"

"I do," answered the ayatollah. "After all he has definitely not insulted the Prophet (PBUH)."

Our correspondent then asked Ms Koulaei how successful she thought Iran's foreign diplomacy has been?

The Tehran representative at the parliament and member of the foreign affairs commission said that the internal political tension and ignoring of the public demands has led to leaving a negative impression of our system abroad, which is easily discerned in Iranian authorities foreign visits.

Answering a question on who she thinks is to be blamed for such a problem, university Professor Koulaei said that the structure of decision making in Iran and the practical involved powerful circles need to be seriously analyzed and pondered.

"Which organ, or personality, do you think should shoulder that task?" asked IRNA.

"The parliament, the executive organ, and the top leaders of the system that are aware of the basic interests and real shortcomings need to tackle out the problem," she said.

Asked why the parliament and the executive body is not seeking a way out of this problem, Koulaei said, "unfortunately the lingering political tension, that is based on personal and factional, rather at national interests, has deprived us of the chance."

She said, "our country can play a much more decisive role at regional and international scenes, and in Iranian officials' meetings with foreign counterparts we realize the foreign leaders and other nations really count on us. But unfortunately due to an inefficient management system, we are not able to take advantage of that great potential."

... Payvand News - 11/30/02 ... --