TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) – Parliament Speaker Mahdi Karrubi said on Wednesday that the Parliament should be respected and religious sanctities must not be used as a leverage to put pressure on the Parliament.

Parliament has come under severe pressure by some groups and peoples for approving a bill on joining the convention banning violence against women.

When there are shortcomings in any institution logical and respectful criticism is welcome, he said but what is important is that the Parliament as the highest legislative body should not be disrespected.

While maintaining that any Majlis ratification should go through its normal procedures he said Majlis ratifications should be approved by the Guardian Council otherwise it should be forwarded to the Expediency Council and the bill (the convention banning violence against women) has not been yet been studied by the Guardian Council while pressures and charges against the MPs are pouring in.

The religious sanctities and the views of religious figures should not be used as a tool against others, he told MPs, adding defaming others has caused many problems for the country which could not be compensated.

The critics should allow the Majlis ratifications proceed their legal procedures and the Majlis will revise anything which may run counter to the Constitution and the Islamic Sharia, he said.