(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Forty-six MPs, including cabinet ministers, voted for the key amendments that will come into effect only after another round of voting and government approval. The second and final vote will take place in two weeks.
Shia MPs have demanded that the new amendments also enforce the death penalty for anyone who curses their sect's 12 revered Imams, but the Sunni dominated parliament rejected their requests.
The move to stiffen penalties for religious crimes came after authorities last month arrested a social networking site Twitter user for allegedly cursing the Prophet Mohammed (saww), his wife and some companions.
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