DATE=4/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN CRACKDOWN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261736
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Iran's Press Court has issued a warning to the
brother of President Mohammed Khatami, whose newspaper
remains among the few reformist publications to escape
a press ban. Meanwhile, Lisa Bryant reports from
Cairo that Iranian students continue to protest the
crackdown.
TEXT: News reports from Tehran says hundreds of
students demonstrated peacefully against a series of
tough measures taken recently against Iran's pro-
reform press. The protests at Tehran's technical
university add to a string of student demonstrations
during the past three-days against the closure of 13
publications by the country's conservative Press
Court.
A judge has issued a warning against a 14th
publication - the daily Mosharekat newspaper, headed
by President Khatami's brother, Mohammed Reza Khatami.
According to Iran's state radio, the judge criticized
recent changes to the newspaper's content and layout
that were made without official authorization. If Mr.
Khatami refuses to heed the warning, the judge said
so-called necessary actions would be taken.
Mr. Khatami's paper is only one of two reformist
dailies that have been allowed to remain in print.
// OPT // The other is published by Saeed Hajjarian,
a prominent journalist who was badly injured in a
shooting last month. Eight men implicated in his
attack went on trial Tuesday. But some pro-reform
activists suspect that hard-line members in the
government may have been behind the shooting. // END
OPT //
During the past month, the country's reformist press
has faced attack from many fronts. Conservatives led
by the country's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khameini,
have harshly criticized some media for promoting what
are considered un-Islamic values. Two prominent
journalists were imprisoned recently, and Iran's
outgoing parliament has passed tough new press laws.
Analysts say the widespread crackdowns reflect a
backlash against recent political gains by reformists
- most notably their February sweep in Iran's
parliamentary elections. Experts say they also aim to
weaken the hand of President Khatami, a former
newspaperman who has supported a flourishing press in
Iran. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/GE/RAE
26-Apr-2000 09:27 AM EDT (26-Apr-2000 1327 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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