EU ATTACKS IRAN'S NEW PENAL CODE

February 26, 2008: the European Union criticised the new penal code being drafted in Iran, particularly a section that imposes the death penalty for giving up Islam.
The EU said this section and other parts of the code violated Tehran's commitments under international human rights conventions.
Death for apostasy already exists in Iran under Sharia - or Islamic - law. But the changes would for the first time bring the punishment into the criminal code. An EU statement expressed deep concern about what it calls the ongoing deterioration in the human rights situation in Iran. (Sources: BBC, 26/02/2008)