TEHRAN -- The deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance for press affairs announced that the judge of branch 1410 of Tehran public court had not abided by the law in ordering the ban on the daily Neshat. The judge, in a letter to the minister of culture and Islamic guidance on September 5, ordered the closure of the daily and asked the minister's press deputy to revoke the licence of the daily.

The minister's press deputy yesterday released a statement titled "defence of the legal perimeter of the press", a copy of which was sent to IRNA. The statement said, in view of article 24 of the Constitution, publication of the press and expression of opinion is part of the rights of the nation and is supported and guaranteed by the Constitution, and the restriction or denial of this right is not possible unless by verdict of an authorized court and based on the law.

According to the statement, the cases for which Neshat daily has been banned are stipulated in articles 23, 30 and 31 of the Press Law, and the order issued by the judge of branch 1410 is not in line with any of the above articles. The minister's press deputy further said in the statement that according to article 27 of the Press Law, revoking the licence of a publication should be done following the court hearing and verdict issued by the court in the presence of the jury.

The statement called on the managing editors and writers of publications to observe the guidelines of the Leader and the president and avoid publishing articles which question the religious beliefs of the people.