EU raps Iran on jailed writer before nuclear talks

BRUSSELS, July 10 (Reuters) The European Union today criticised Iran's treatment of jailed philosopher Ramin Jahanbeglo, raising human rights concerns on the eve of talks with Tehran aimed at ending a nuclear standoff with the West.

Canadian-Iranian Jahanbegloo was arrested in Tehran in May on spying charges and Iranian officials said in June he had no right to a lawyer because his detention was a ''security case'', an argument the EU rejected.

''The EU remains concerned about the apparent shortcomings in due process surrounding Dr Jahanbegloo's arrest and detention, and calls on Iranian authorities to allow him immediate access to legal counsel,'' it said in a statement.

''The EU underlines the inherent unreliability of confessions made in prison without adequate legal safeguards,'' it added.

Jahanbegloo has worked and lectured on democracy in Iran and how the Islamic Republic can engage with the West, and has written on the importance of acknowledging the World War Two Holocaust of the Jews. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has questioned whether it happened.

The EU issues regular statements of concern on human rights in Iran. The statement made no reference to talks due in Brussels tomorrow between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

The two are scheduled to discuss an international offer of technology, trade and other incentives for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to make an atomic bomb. Iran insists its programme is solely aimed at energy production and that it has a right to enrich.

Reuters SY DB2234