US Troubled by 10-Day Suspension of Iranian Daily
September 29, 2003
Reuters
MSNBC News
WASHINGTON -- The United States said on Monday it was troubled that Iran's conservative judiciary had banned a leading reformist daily from publishing for 10 days after it failed to give top billing to a judiciary statement.
The judiciary statement was a riposte to articles in the Yas-e No newspaper on the welfare of imprisoned pollster Abbas Abdi, who published a survey that found three-quarters of Iranians in favor of resuming dialogue with the United States.
''We view with concern the Iranian judiciary banning a reformist publication simply for not placing prominently a judiciary statement,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at his daily briefing, citing U.S. support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
''We hope the voice of the Iranian people and their call for democracy and the rule of law will be heard and help transform Iran into a force for stability in the region,'' he added.
A member of the newspaper's board of editors said the paper had been told to hold its presses for 10 days from Monday after it refused to reprint the judiciary statement, which it had originally printed in its middle pages.
The judiciary had demanded the paper reprint the statement on its front page. Some 90 newspapers have been banned by Iran's judiciary in the last three years and scores of reformist journalists have been jailed.
(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed, editing by Patricia Zengerle; Reuters Messaging: arshad.mohammed.reuters.com+reuters.net; e-mail arshad.mohammed+reuters.com; +1 202 898 8393))
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters09-29-151354.asp?reg=MIDEASTThanks for the information.
''We view with concern the Iranian judiciary banning a reformist publication simply for not placing prominently a judiciary statement,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at his daily briefing, citing U.S. support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press."
"We hope the voice of the Iranian people and their call for democracy and the rule of law will be heard and help transform Iran into a force for stability in the region,'' he added. "
WOW. What a change. I can't remember anyone from the White House or State Dept. even bringing up the subject of Iranian newspapers being banned. (doubt it's my letter writing campaign.) Must be Reporters Without Borders.
Finally. Now, maybe the press will be forced to reveal their shameful lack of coverage in the past. (nah, they'll just pick it up like it's somethinig new going on. Who am I kidding?)
Ethical Journalists = Oxymoron
Unethical Journalists= Redundant