Pro-stoning charge causes MEPs’ boycott

Date: 06/03/03

MEP Emma Nicholson has denied claims by fellow deputies that an Iranian official invited by her to speak on women's empowerment is a supporter of stoning as a form of capital punishment.

Green MEPs Nelly Maes and Joos Lagendijk refused to take part in the event after learning that Zahra Shojai, Iran's presidential advisor on women's issues, was a speaker.

"The European Parliament must not host those who advocate medieval punishments such as stoning," Maes said. "I will in no way take part in a forum that serves the propaganda purposes of the despotic regime which rules Iran."

But Baroness Nicholson yesterday refuted reports that Shojai supports stoning as a punishment.

"Her reputation has been unfairly smeared," the UK Liberal Democrat said. "She does not support the stoning of women and has said that none have been authorised in Iran in two years."

Moreover, she added, "one month ago the head of the judiciary issued a ruling, forbidding stoning sentences, that is binding on the entire Iranian judiciary".

The three-day conference on "dialogue between civilisations", was the fifth such event coordinated by the AMAR (Assisting Marsh Arabs and Refugees) international charity. Nicholson founded the AMAR in 1991 in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

"This time our goal was to focus on the empowerment of women, especially younger women," Nicholson said.

Participants at the event included Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco and Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan, officials from the World Health Organization and UNESCO, as well as policymakers from Tunisia and other Arab states.

MEP Emma Nicholson has denied claims by fellow deputies that an Iranian official invited by her to speak on women's empowerment is a supporter of stoning as a form of capital punishment.