SHIRAZ, Fars Province An MP expressed regret over the current status of the press in Iran. His comments coincides with President Mohammad Khatami's acceptance of the resignation of reformist culture and Islamic guidance minister Ataollah Mohajerani, the man behind the explosion of the free press in the country.
Jalil Sazegarnejad told a group of journalists in this southern city that the local press are in shabby conditions.
He lamented a mass closure of over 27 periodicals (since a sweeping crackdown in May) and said the consequential intellectual impact of the press on their readers is the reason for a lot of flak from opponents. The deputy called on his colleagues in the Sixth Majlis to make certain changes in the share allocated to the press from the annual budget submitted to the Majlis for the next Iranian calendar year (starting March 21).
Sazegarnejad also criticized a decision by the Press Court on Monday which ordered best-selling newspaper, Hamshahri to restrict its distribution to the city of Tehran. "Is there any common sense behind the issue of such an order for the best-selling newspaper?" Judge Saeed Mortazavi had previously directed the newspaper to restrict its distribution to Tehran only.
The daily sells about 460,000 copies per day nationwide.
But, Mohajerani's resignation Thursday may add to the worries over the freedom of the press in the country.
Mohajerani, a close ally of President Khatami was a bete noire of the conservatives for his "lax" handling of the press offenses.
Iran's independent press was already reeling from mass closures by reinvigorated conservatives in charge of the Judiciary. In the absence of Mohajerani, the immediate future of the national press as the voice of the people may hang in the balance.
(IRNA)