Iranian Court Starts Open Trial of Suspended Papers
TEHRAN (June 28) XINHUA - Iran on Wednesday started the first open trial
of the papers and journals suspended in recent months for disparaging Islam
and religious elements of the Islamic revolution.
The first trial started at Branch 1410 of Tehran's Public Court, scheduled
to hear the case against Mostafa Izadi, managing director of the suspended
weekly "Ava" (Voice), the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Izadi's plaintiffs include the Intelligence Ministry, Prosecutor-General
Ayatollah Morteza Moghtadai and other officials affiliated to the Basij
(volunteer forces).
"Ava" is among the 19 papers and periodicals, most of them
pro- reform, that were shut down in the past few months by the conservative
judiciary.
The measure was considered as part of the efforts by the conservative
establishment to crack down on the growing reformist campaign fostered
by President Mohammad Khatami since he took office in 1997.
Khatami's allies won an overwhelming victory in February's parliamentary
election, ending the long-time conservative-dominance in the legislative
body.
But the conservatives, still controlling most of the powerful state
organs including the military, have stepped up their efforts to strengthen
their rule and weaken the reformist movement.
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