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Iran bars publishing of opposition newspaper

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Iranian government on Wednesday prevented the publishing of the opposition Etemad-e-Melli newspaper in its latest move to quash anti-government reporting in the country. International journalists in the country have also been ordered to stay indoors. The newspaper was linked to opposition candidate Mehdi Karroubi. Both he and candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have continued to criticize the government for both alleged election fraud and its harsh treatment of protesters and the press following the announcement that incumbent candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the highly-disputed election. In reaction to Mousavi's increasing criticism of the government, some in the government and its Basij security forces have called for his arrest, calling him a threat to national security. Earlier this week, Iran's Guardian Council of the Constitution certified the election results week after the Council rejected protesters' requests to abandon the results and start over after a partial recount. Protests of the results have reportedly resulted in at least 17 deaths and hundreds of arrests. Authorities stated that those arrested would be appropriately dealt with by the court system. Human rights groups have viewed the arrests as political repression, saying that Iranian forces are using the protests to "engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals." Amnesty International has called for authorities to respect and nurture debate stressing that "healthy debate on issues of fundamental importance to peoples' lives" informs, rather than threatens, policy makers."

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 02, 2009 (boomark / email).