This column features excerpts from news articles, editorials, commentaries, and interviews of the leading Iranian newspapers and websites.

Wednesday’s headlines
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: Majlis’ important massage to principlists
JAME JAM: Cash subsidies are paid
JAVAN: Reformists have no plan for parliamentary election, Majid Ansari says
TAFAHOM: Drought affects 21 provinces of the country
HEMAYAT: Iran receiving details of Russia’s step-by-step proposal, Mehmanparast says
KAYHAN: 500 Iraqi scientists have been assassinated by CIA, Mossad
IRAN: Farmers will be provided with facilities worth 3,400b rials (about $340 dollars)
KHORASAN: Saudi Arabia trying to block Mubarak’s trial
DONYA EGHTESAD: Majlis’ opposition to declaration of Thursdays as holiday
SHARQ: Tehran reformist councilors present initiative in countering insecurity and controlling drugs
QODS: PJAK a cornerstone of discussions at trilateral commission comprising Iran, Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government, Foreign Ministry spokesman tells Qods
QODS: U.S. is parasite on global economy, Putin says
Leading article
HAMSHAHRI, in a news report, says that Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani has criticized the Tajik government for passing laws which go against Islamic teachings and has called on the country’s officials to apologize to the world’s Muslims. According to the Associated Press, Tajikistan’s leader has approved a law barring minors from praying in mosques. The law also requires people under the age of 18 to study in secular schools thus barring thousands of students from attending mosque schools. Ayatollah Golpayegani also condemned a ban on Islamic hijab in Tajikistan’s schools and universities and criticized Dushanbe for preventing parents from naming their children after Islamic figures, including Prophet Muhammad (S), saying such measures are meant to rob the country’s Muslims of their identity. He also said that the weak officials who make such decisions are keeping Tajikistan underdeveloped and the measures they take are an insult to Muslims.
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ, in a news report, quotes Mehdi Taeb, a religious scholar, as saying that some points should be taken into consideration to increase people’s turnout in the March parliamentary elections, such as gaining public confidence and making honest remarks. Taeb said first of all, an atmosphere should be created in which people come to the conclusion that their participation in the elections affects their lives and make a difference, and secondly efforts should be made to assure people that officials are making honest remarks. Taeb went on to say that the majority of people share a common point which is their belief in the Islamic system and surmount all difficulties. Thus, it can be said that there will be a high turnout for the elections.
According to JAVAN newspaper, MP Kazem Jalali has said Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing efforts to broker unity among principlists in the run-up to the March parliamentary elections. Jalali, a member of Majlis principlist faction, said both Larijani and Qalibaf have agreed to back efforts to create unity among principlists without seeking any share in the makeup of the list of nominees for the parliamentary elections. He also condemned certain remarks made against Larijani and Qalibaf, saying scathing attacks on these political figures were not a right move because the two figures have said they will accept any plan by the Combatant Clergy Association and the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom under the leadership of Ayatollah Mohammadreza Mahdavi Kani. Jalali also said Larijani and Qalibaf have not even sought to have a representative in the 15-member committee which comprises members from individual principlists groups. He also called on principlists to be thankful to God as Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, the chairman of the Assembly of Experts, is making efforts to broker unity among principlists