TEHRAN -- The European Parliament's Head of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee Elmar Brook said in a meeting with Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri here Saturday evening that the Praiseworthy rich cultural background of the Iranians is reflected "in a way" in the constitution of the I.R. of Iran.

According to the Public Relations Office of the Assembly for Proximity Among Islamic Faiths, headed by Ayatollah Taskhiri, the ayatollah during the said meeting listed the liberties granted to Iranian nation according to the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that are all based on the exalted teachings of Islam, IRNA reported.

Ayatollah Taskhiri added, "Furthermore, all Iranian officials, and powerful figures in our system, including the leader, the president, the MPs etc, are elected either directly, or indirectly by the people's votes," expressing hope that all articles of the constitution, which are manifestations of the Islamic teachings, would be dully implemented in Iran. Referring to the marching of millions of Iranians, from all walks of life, on Friday July 19th, in support of the political and territorial integrity of Islamic Republic of Iran and its exalted supreme leadership, Ayatollah Taskhiri said: "That was a pure manifestation of the strong belief of the Iranian nation in god and their Islamic faith." In reply to a question posed by the EP representative on Iran's current stand on terrorism, the Ayatollah said: "Islam condemns any type of terrorist moves at any place and by whomsoever, but let us not forget that what is happening in Palestine is the legitimate defense and resistance of an oppressed nation whose motherland, Palestine, is occupied, and every day a new military incursion is launched against them, partly by Jewish township dwellers, all of whom, are armed militants, and none real civilians." Taskhiri added, "Rather than fighting against the symptoms, the world should spend more serious efforts aimed at fighting the real cause of the Middle East conflict, that is nothing but occupation and the military invasions of the racist-Zionists."

Human rights in Islam was the other issue discussed during the meeting, also attended by the Deputy Head of the EP's Foreign and Human Rights Committee, Baroness Nicholson.