DATE=8/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN/PRESS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-265181
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Iran's supreme leader dealt a stunning blow to
the new reformist parliament by ruling that its hopes
to ease press restrictions are unlawful. From Cairo,
Lisa Bryant reports Ayatollah Ali Khameini's decree is
a further setback for press freedom in Iran.
TEXT: Ayatollah Khameini's warning against amending
the press code appeared in a letter to parliament. It
said amending the press code was against the interests
of the state and raised the possibility that
unspecified enemies of Islam could infiltrate and
control the media.
Shouts and scuffles broke out after the ayatollah's
statement was read. Several moderate lawmakers left
the hall. But Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi
said the ayatollah's decree was legal. Iran's
constitution gives the supreme leader authority over
most state matters.
Iran's newly-elected parliament, in which moderates
gained a 70-percent majority, planned to begin
debating the press law Sunday in order to ease the
press restrictions introduced by their hard-line
predecessors. In recent months more than 20 liberal
publications have been banned in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Agence France-Presse news agency
reported that Iran's hard-line judiciary sentenced the
head of a reformist publication to a two-month prison
term. At least seven other newspapermen have been
jailed since April.
On Saturday, a leading reformist cleric and journalist
was arrested and imprisoned shortly after he flew to
Tehran after an extended stay in Paris. The cleric,
Hassan Yusefi Ashkevari, was editor of a banned
monthly publication.
Analysts believe the press crackdown illustrates an
ongoing power struggle between conservatives, who
dominate the Iran's judiciary and security branches,
and liberals who support President Mohammad Khatami.
Dozens of liberal publications began to appear after
Mr. Khatami came to power, only to be closed down, one
by one.
Khatami supporters say his chances of being re-elected
next year are bound to be weakened if he is deprived
of friendly newspapers and magazines to explain his
plans for reforms in Iran. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/DW/RAE
06-Aug-2000 12:10 PM EDT (06-Aug-2000 1610 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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