Click
here to read more about press freedom conditions in IRAN.
[Click here to read CPJ's protest letter of April 14]
[Click
here to read CPJ's news alert of April 21]
[Click
here to read CPJ's news alert of April 24]
[Click
here to read CPJ's protest letter of April 24]
[Click
here to read exerpts from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's recent speech denouncing
the independent media]
New York, April 27, 2000 --- Hard-line political forces continued
their crackdown on Iran's reformist press by closing three more newspapers,
bringing to 16 the total number of publications shut down in the last
week.
The leading dailies Sobh-e-Emrooz and Mosharekat (which
is directed by President Muhammad Khatami's brother Muhammad Reza
Khatami) and the Isfahan-based weekly Ava were ordered closed
by judicial authorities for alleged violations of the press law, according
to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
IRNA also reported that Iran's press court had ordered the Isfahan-based
weekly Ava to close for publishing false news with the intent
of disturbing public opinion, among other charges. The case was based
on complaints filed against Ava by a number of government institutions,
including the Intelligence Ministry, the Revolutionary Guards (an
elite military force under the direct control of Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei), and the Special Court for Clergy in Qom.
Iranian authorities did not publicly state their justification for
closing Sobh-e-Emrooz and Mosharekat. Judicial authorities
had previously ordered Sobh-e-Emrooz to close on Monday, April
24, but the ban was reversed that same day for reasons that remain
unclear.
The Iranian judiciary is controlled by conservatives who are generally
hostile to the social and political liberalization program associated
with President Khatami and his allies in the reformist camp. Conservatives
recently lost control of parliament in February's crucial general
election, giving Khatami a broad popular mandate.
On April 23 and 24, judicial authorities decimated the reformist press
with the indefinite closure of 13 newspapers and magazines. This onslaught
provides further evidence that anti-reform elements still wield great
power in Iran, despite their defeat at the polls.
As of today, only one national pro-reform newspaper, Bayan,
was still available on newsstands in Tehran and other cities. The
judicial crackdown has dealt a crippling blow to the lively political
debate being carried out in the Iranian press since May 1997, when
Khatami was elected president.
END
Excerpts
from Ali Khamenei's April 20 speech denouncing the independent media
"Unfortunately, the same enemy who wants to overthrow the [regime] has
found a base in the country. Some of the press have become the base
of the enemy. I am neither against press freedom nor variety in the
press. I would be happier if instead of 20 newspapers, there were 200
papers that were a guiding light as stipulated in the Constitution,
and wrote in the interest of the people and religion. The more such
newspapers, the better."
"But there are newspapers (publications) whose only aim is to create
tension and make people cynical of the regime. It seems that 10 to 15
newspapers (publications) are guided from one center; they write similar
headlines that make it look like the country is losing everything. They
kill hope in the youths, weaken the spirit of confidence in officials;
they insult official institutions..."
"Even the Western press is not like that... This is press charlatanism!"
"They insult the Constitution, insult the country's policies, they exaggerate
issues... An assassination attempt takes place, before it is clear,
they accuse the revolutionary guards and the basij and the clergy. Why
are they so much against the basij?''
"There are good people in many of the publications -- both writers and
managers. But in the midst of them, I find footsteps of Abdullah Bin
Obey [someone who betrayed Prophet Mohammed].''
"I didn't want to speak so frankly and explicitly about some of the
publications, but I had no choice. I spoke to officials. The honorable
President, like me, is not happy. I heard that he gathered some of them
and counseled them [Khatami last week met managing editors of the papers
and told them to keep a lower profile]. I don't think if counseling
works...''
"They don't give a chance to the people to breathe... Always a conflict...''
"I find this current press propaganda harmful to the country, to the
youths and the future and faith of the people."
"They are trying to shatter everything that is sacred. They are questioning
Islamic issues, they are questioning the revolution, not with rational
arguments, but wrong methods."
"I am only complaining to you... Of course one of the enemy's aims is
to provoke your emotions, I caution you not to do anything outside the
law because of emotions or in support of someone. I will not allow it.
Take notice. It is not difficult for the enemy to plant four mercenaries
among the honest Hezbollahis and create tension and clashes under the
pretext that it is in support of the leadership (supreme leadership)."
"I only wanted you to know, the public to know what the enemy is doing
in the country and what the aim of the enemy is--to make people lose
their faith and separate the past and present generations."
"They are belittling one of the prides of the past 20 years which was
the holy defense, the eight year war ... They are now questioning the
war, they are questioning the fighters, the martyrs, the revolutionary
guards and the army."
"Only an enemy is capable of doing such a thing. Those who do it in
the newspapers are not really the enemy, they are just ignorant."
"Officials must know that this is a big danger and if the danger is
not dealt with, the enemy will take one step forward...''
END
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