Iranian pro-Khatami press under increasing pressure
TEHRAN, May 30 (AFP) - The brief detention of the head of Iran's official
news agency was portrayed in the Iranian press Sunday as the latest twist
in a campaign of pressure by conservatives against reformist media, less
than a year away from parliamentary elections.
IRNA director Fereydoun Verdinejad was released from a six-hour detention
Saturday after posting a bail of 180 million rials (60,000 dollars at the
official exchange rate).
A close associate of former president Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and
an ally of his successor, Mohammad Khatami, he faces some 30 complaints
filed against him by state-run television, some 20 members of the conservative-dominated
parliament and the police.
Although the exact details of the charges are not available, conservatives
appear to have seized on a cartoon printed in a paper belonging to the
IRNA group which showed a toilet with a television for a cistern, implying
its programmes were only fit to be flushed away.
But Verdinejad supporters say the insult to conservative-run television
is only a pretext.
According to the moderate Iran News paper, Verdinejad's main fault is
that he has sided with the Executives of Construction Party -- the main
moderate political party -- and with President Khatami.
Iran News sees Verdinejad's detention as a way for his adversaries to
apply further pressure on Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani, who has
worked actively to open up the press, and who is ultimately responsible
for IRNA.
In a series of blows over recent months, Mohajerani has lost his vice-minister
in charge of press matters, Ahmad Bourghani, as well the top official responsible
for the local press, Issa Saharkhiz.
Saharkhiz appeared in court Sunday charged with disobeying a court order
by allowing a newspaper to publish a special supplement while under a suspension
order.
The moderate culture minister himself managed to escape an impeachment
motion against him in early May, but remains a target of daily criticism
by conservative circles who accuse his liberal politics of paving the way
for the "enemies of the revolution."
The reformist Neshat (Vitality) paper, under a banner front-page headline
on Sunday proclaiming "a new offensive against the press," splashed
the photos of seven reformist editors whose papers the conservatives are
gunning for.
All this is happening against the buildup to parliamentary elections
in 10 months time, when reformers hope to capitalise on the popularity
of Khatami and their resounding success in February's municipal elections
in order to challenge the conservatives' hold on parliament
Under Khatami, elected two years ago, the Iranian press has enjoyed
considerable freedom in accordance with his promises of relaxing censorship
and strengthening civil institutions.
In the battle for hearts and minds, pro-Khatami papers have blossomed,
enabling the president to get his message through to the public, especially
the young and city-dwellers.
But the conservative hold on radio and television looks set to remain,
with the reappointment Wednesday by spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
of conservative Ali Larijani, to another five-year term at the head of
state broadcasting.
"This trend is expected to continue until the sixth Majlis (parliament)
election to be held in March 2000," Iran News predicted.
Verdinejad is by no means the only moderate journalist to be learning
the truth of this the hard way.
Newspapers have reported that Mohammad Reza Zohdi, director of the reformist
Arya paper was also detained Saturday for "defamation, spreading false
information, and publishing confidential military information."
Said Hajarian, director of the pro-Khatami Sobh-e-Emruz and member of
Tehran municipal council, is also about to be arrested, according to several
papers.
Newspapers reported Saturday that a journalist with another paper close
to the government, Jahan-e-Eslam, was detained Tuesday during a gathering
of students and held for 35 hours.
Ahmad Zeidabadi, chief editor of the Azad newspaper, resigned recently
after the director of the moderate daily was called before a revolutionary
court. In an open letter to Khatami, Zeidabadi said he was stepping
aside to prevent the closure of the newspaper.
And in February, Iran's revolutionary court ordered the closure of the
women's paper Zan, led by moderate MP Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former
president Rafsanjani.
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