(RSF/IFEX) – On 17 April 2002, RSF protested the ban on the regional weekly “Chams-e-Tabriz” and the sentencing of its editor, Ali-Hamed Iman, to eight months in jail and 74 lashes. “We ask you to reverse this sentence along with all the suspension orders issued against newspapers since April 2000,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 17 April 2002, RSF protested the ban on the regional weekly “Chams-e-Tabriz” and the sentencing of its editor, Ali-Hamed Iman, to eight months in jail and 74 lashes.
“We ask you to reverse this sentence along with all the suspension orders issued against newspapers since April 2000,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard in a letter to the head of the Iranian judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi. Noting that exactly two years ago the then-conservative Iranian parliament tightened the already very strict press law, he called on Iranian authorities to “amend this legislation to make it less severe” (see IFEX alerts of 8 August, 24 and 20 April 2000).
RSF learned that a court in the northern city of Tabriz banned the newspaper on 16 April and found editor Iman guilty of 15 offences, including “insulting religion and the Prophet”, “trying to stir up ethnic tension”, “insulting the leaders of the regime” and “publishing lies”. He has 20 days to appeal the verdict.
Four newspapers have been suspended this year in Iran. 13 journalists are still in prison, despite the release of six journalists in March.
