DATE=12/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN PRESS CONVICTION REACT (L-O)
NUMBER=2-256755
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Some senior Iranian religious leaders are
criticizing the prison sentence of reformist
politician and newspaper publisher Abdollah Nouri.
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Cairo, the
criticism underscores a growing rift between
reformists and conservatives prior to Iran's
parliamentary elections next February.
TEXT: One of Iran's senior-most religious leaders has
spoken out in support of Abdollah Nouri, who last
Saturday began a five-year prison sentence for
insulting Islam and advocating reforms to the Iranian
political system.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Montazeri was quoted in local
newspapers as saying Mr. Nouri's conviction has
boosted his credibility and honor. Ayatollah
Montazeri was once slated to replace the late
Ayatollah Khomeini, but has been under house arrest
since 1989 on charges of plotting against the
government.
The League of Teachers at seminaries in the holy city
of Qom issued a statement (also published Thursday)
condemning the sentence, which it said was in open
legal conflict with the constitution.
Mr. Nouri was tried before the Special Court of the
Clergy, created by the late Ayatollah. But Mr. Nouri
said during his trial that the court was being used to
repress political debate and questioned its
constitutionality.
Supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who
controls the special court, defended it recently. He
said it is legal and necessary, and the objections
against it are not valid.
The Special Court of the Clergy and another court,
often called the Press Court, have been used to
imprison a number of reformist publishers and close
their newspapers. On the day of Mr. Nouri's
conviction, the Press Court sentenced another
publisher, Mashallah Shamsolvaezi, to three-years in
prison.
/// REST OPT ///
Four reformist Iranian newspapers have been closed
this year. The closures have brought criticism from
international human-rights organizations. A spokesman
for Amnesty International, Ben Rowse, told V-O-A the
courts are being used to limit political debate in
Iran prior to the elections.
/// ROWSE ACT ///
Amnesty International considers both Abdollah
Nouri and Mashallah Shamsolvaezi prisoners of
conscience. And we are calling on the Islamic
Republic of Iran to release them immediately and
unconditionally, and to stop this persecution of
journalists and people who are daring to speak
out against the conservative hard-liners in the
country.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Nouri, a former vice-president and interior
minister, received the most votes in Tehran's
municipal elections earlier this year. But he
resigned as council chairman, saying he was planning
to run for speaker of the parliament.
His conviction bars him from political activity for
five years. Supporters say, nevertheless, they will
press on with their campaign to take control of the
conservative-dominated parliament.
Many in Iran say factional rivalry is dividing the
Iranian clergy and worry that it could upset the
timetable for parliamentary elections next February.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/RAE
02-Dec-1999 11:08 AM EDT (02-Dec-1999 1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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