DATE=11/16/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=IRAN / PRESS FREEDOM
NUMBER=5-44770
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// ED'S: OFFICIAL VERDICT IN NOURI CASE IS EXPECTED
WITHIN ONE WEEK. /////
INTRO: In Iran, the judge of a special religious
court is preparing to deliver a verdict in the trial
of a popular politician and publisher charged with
insulting Islam and other offenses. A panel of
supreme court judges has recommended a guilty verdict
after the public portion of the trial of Abdollah
Nouri ended abruptly following a week of stormy
testimony. Middle East Correspondent Scott Bobb
reports the trial is being seen as a major battle
between conservative and reformist politicians who are
jockeying for power prior to Iran's parliamentary
elections in three-months.
TEXT: For nearly two-weeks, television viewers in
Iran have followed with fascination as a leading
reformist politician and clergyman, Abdollah Nouri,
questioned some of the basic tenets of Iran's strict
Islamic form of government.
Mr. Nouri, a former vice-president and interior
minister, vehemently defended himself and his
"Khordad" newspaper against charges of a variety of
offenses against Islam. Moreover, he went on the
offensive, attacking the special court that was trying
him as unconstitutional and its judge as unqualified.
Mr. Nouri was tried before the Special Court of the
Clergy, established by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini to judge religious leaders who are accused of
deviating from the principles of Islam. But since the
election of reformist President Mohammed Khatami two-
years ago, conservative political factions have used
the court to silence popular reformists.
A professor of political science at Cairo's American
University, Bahman Baktiari, says the Nouri trial is
the most important event in Iranian politics since
student riots last July. The riots erupted following
the closure of the "Salam" reformist newspaper and the
conviction of its editor in the same Special Court of
the Clergy.
/// BAKTIARI ACT ONE ///
What Nouri did, it brought to the attention of the
public on a large scale as well as members of the
ruling elite that maybe the time for a Special Court
of Clergy has arrived to either become constitutional
or become dissolved.
/// END ACT ///
Four important reformist newspapers have been closed
in recent months. These include "Neshat", whose
publisher received a 30-month suspended sentence, and
"Asr-e Azadegan", whose editor, Mashaallah
Shamsolvaezin, is currently on trial.
The international group Human Rights Watch last month
said the press has become a human-rights victim of the
political struggle in Iran and called for laws to
protect it.
Mr. Nouri previously published two other newspapers,
which were closed by the government. He says if
"Khordad" is closed, he will start up another
newspaper.
Professor Baktiari explains this practice is common in
Iran, because newspaper publishing is part of
politics.
/// BAKTIARI ACT TWO ///
It is a struggle. It is a struggle to get your
viewpoint heard. And newspapers are the platform for
it. The conservatives shut it because they view the
reformists have too many platforms. The reformists
start another one. So it is a continuous struggle.
It is not so much of a freedom of press, I think. It
is a political struggle between political factions and
parties.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Nouri was elected head of Tehran's City Council,
after winning the most votes in city elections last
February. But he resigned to run for parliament and
the post of speaker. Political observers charge his
trial is aimed primarily at keeping him out of the
race.
Reformists are hoping to win control of the parliament
in the elections in February. But a screening
committee dominated by conservative clerics has the
power to disqualify candidates on religious grounds.
The committee is expected to try to sideline the most-
popular reformist candidates. As a result, the press
has become a major battleground as political rivalries
heat up prior to the campaign. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
16-Nov-1999 09:28 AM EDT (16-Nov-1999 1428 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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