Iran hits back at EU over human rights

TEHRAN, May 28 (Reuters) Iran accused the European Union today of interfering in its affairs after the 27-nation bloc criticised Tehran's human rights record.

Just days before expected talks between Iran and the EU on Tehran's nuclear programme, the Islamic republic suggested the Union should tackle its own rights violations.

The EU expressed concern on Friday about injustices in Iran. It highlighted recent arrests of activists including women's rights campaigners and allegations of intimidation of teachers, union members, academics and journalists.

''Iran considers ... the statement (of the EU presidency) as interfering in its internal affairs and seriously condemns it,'' Mehr news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini as saying.

Iran did not accept any suggestion that it should not confront people violating national security, Hosseini said. Suspects were dealt with in accordance with the country's constitution and by its independent judiciary, he added.

The EU should focus on ''important cases'' of rights violations in its own territory, Hosseini said.

He said these included ''hidden prisons, using European airports for transferring CIA detainees, violating rights of ethnic and religious minorities, especially Muslims, immigrants and refugees.'' EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani are expected to meet this week to assess the scope for resuming negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.

The West suspects the programme is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. Iran says it is solely to generate electricity.

Friday's EU statement said stricter dress codes for men and women were being imposed by force in Iran, and noted closure of three offices of non-governmental organisations and ethnic discrimination.

It expressed concern about use of the death penalty, and noted the April execution of a man who was only 16 at the time he had committed his crime.

REUTERS GL ND1842