Zan daily ordered closed for two weeks
TEHRAN, Jan 23 (AFP) - A newspaper run by a daughter of former Iranian
president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been banned for two weeks for allegedly
defaming a security official, the daily announced Saturday.
Zan (Woman) daily, run by moderate MP and feminist activist Faezeh
Hashemi, was ordered closed from January 24 to February 7 by a Tehran court,
it said.
The paper has been plagued by several lawsuits, mainly one filed by
police security chief General Mohammad Naghdi after he was accused by the
daily of participating in an attack on two senior government officials
by Islamic extremists in September.
The general denied having had a role in the attack on former vice president
Abdollah Nuri and Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani -- two leading moderate
figures in the government -- and demanded action against Zan for "defaming"
him.
The court has also sentenced Hashemi to a fine of 500 dollars.
Hashemi, a staunch supporter of President Mohammad Khatami, has waged
a campaign against hardline conservatives who still dominate parliament
and the judiciary.
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