(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned over an upsurge in harassment and obstruction of journalists since the 11 January 2004 ruling barring large numbers of reformist candidates from running in the 20 February parliamentary elections. The organisation called on the Iranian authorities to allow journalists to report freely on the political crisis that is currently shaking […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned over an upsurge in harassment and obstruction of journalists since the 11 January 2004 ruling barring large numbers of reformist candidates from running in the 20 February parliamentary elections. The organisation called on the Iranian authorities to allow journalists to report freely on the political crisis that is currently shaking the country. RSF also urged the authorities to grant visas to all foreign journalists who apply for them.
During the week of 29 January, eight reformist dailies – “Yas-e no”, “Sharq”, “Nassim-e Sabah”, “Tosseh”, “Aftab-e Yazd”, “E’temad”, “Hambastegi” and “Mardomsalari” – were threatened by the legal authorities for their coverage of a sit-in by reformist members of parliament in front of Parliament.
Tehran Chief Prosecutor Said Mortazavi called on the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Orientation to issue a warning to the eight newspapers, accusing them of “sowing discord.” On 8 February, Mortazavi said, “Any newspaper carrying articles about the election boycott will be immediately closed.”
In addition, five journalists have been officially summoned by the Justice Ministry. They include:
– Shadi Sadr, a “Yas-e no” journalist and publisher of the website http://www.womeniran.com , is due to appear shortly before a court in Qazvin to respond to a complaint from the Prosecutor’s Office.
– Abdollah Nasseri, head of the official IRNA news agency, was summoned by Section 1083 of the Tehran court to respond to complaints from the Prosecutor’s Office linked to his coverage of the political crisis.
– Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, editor-in-chief of several major banned reformist newspapers, was summoned on 28 January by the Sixth section of the Tehran court over his articles on the parliamentary crisis.
– Abdolrassul Vessal, publisher of the daily “Iran”, was summoned by the Sixth section of the Tehran court over his paper’s report on the government spokesman’s speech during the sit-in by reformist members of parliament. He is accused of “publishing false news”.
– Rassul Montakhabnia, a reformist member of parliament and journalist, was summoned by the Clergy Court over a highly critical article about a speech by the Guide of the Islamic Republic about the Iranian press.
Throughout the country, and particularly in provincial cities, journalists have told RSF that they have received telephone threats over articles about the political crisis. Courts have summoned some newspaper managers on the basis of complaints laid many months or even years earlier.
Finally, several media outlets have been shut down:
– The weekly “Hadith-e Kerman”, in Kerman province, was closed on 7 February because of its coverage in 2003 of serial killings committed by armed militia groups.
– “No Andish”, a Khorrassan province weekly, was suspended for one year on 4 February on the order of the Seventh Appeals Court in Mashhad, on the basis of a complaint from the Prosecutor’s Office. The editor-in-chief, publisher and a journalist from the paper were fined five million rials (approx. US$600; 470 euros at the official rate) and another journalist was fined 1 million rials (approx. US$120; 94 euros).
