DATE=11/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NOURI / IRAN L-ONLY
NUMBER=2-256082
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Conservatives in Iran have dealt another blow
to the nation's reformist movement, after a special
jury paved the way for the conviction of one of Iran's
leading moderates. As Richard Engel reports, Iran's
former Interior Minister Abdullah Nouri may be barred
from participating in upcoming Iranian elections.
TEXT: Iran's official news agency reports a jury of
hard-liners at a Special Clerical Court recommended
that Mr. Nouri be found guilty of 15 unspecified
counts of religious and political dissent.
The jury recommended acquitting Mr. Nouri of five
other counts.
The jury delivered the decision to the court's judges
who will issue a final verdict. Iranian radio said
that the court would take the jury's findings into
consideration when it determines the verdict.
If found guilty, Mr. Nouri, who is one of Iran's most
popular reformists, would be banned from taking part
in February's parliamentary elections and could face a
long prison term.
Mr. Nouri has been given eight days to submit his
final written defense.
The jury's recommendation ends the public portion Mr.
Nouri's trial, which has gripped Iran.
The charges against Mr. Nouri stem from articles
published in the Khordad newspaper, a publication he
managed last year after Iran's conservative parliament
forced him to resign as interior minister.
A 44-page indictment accused Mr. Nouri of using
Khordad to slander the Iranian government, publish
irreligious articles and distort the vision of the
Islamic republic as laid out by the late Ayatollah
Khomeini.
During his defense, Mr. Nouri lashed out at the court,
saying it was trying to keep him out of office. He
also used the trial as a platform to further air his
controversial views that Iran should consider
improving relations with the United States and reduce
the amount of power wielded by Iran's clergy.
Mr. Nouri is a staunch supporter of Iran's moderate
President Mohammed Khatami. Analysts say his trial is
part of an on-going battle between reformists and
hard-liners in Iran for real control of the nation.
Mr. Nouri has predicted his own conviction, likening
the trial to the Spanish Inquisition.
Analysts say many reformists had hoped Mr. Nouri would
be Iran's next speaker of parliament, something which
may no longer be possible. (Signed)
NEB/RHE/JWH/JO
12-Nov-1999 09:31 AM EDT (12-Nov-1999 1431 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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