(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, RSF protested the suspension of the weekly “Mehr”. “Despite the releases of a few journalists in recent weeks, press freedom has not made significant progress in Iran. More than thirty newspapers have been banned since April 2000,” recalled Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, RSF protested the suspension of the weekly “Mehr”. “Despite the releases of a few journalists in recent weeks, press freedom has not made significant progress in Iran. More than thirty newspapers have been banned since April 2000,” recalled Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. RSF noted that Iran is the biggest jail in the world for journalists, with twenty-one media professionals behind bars, including some who are in very poor health.
According to information collected by RSF, the reformist weekly “Mehr”, directed by Hodjatoleslam Mohammad-Ali Zam, was banned following charges for “publishing lies” and “insults.” The origin of the charges is unknown. Because he is a religious figure, Zam will appear before the Special Religious Tribunal.
