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Alert

Four dailies banned

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called for four banned reformist dailies, "Etemaad", "Aftabyazd", "Eqbal" and "Hayat No" to be allowed to reopen. The newspapers were banned on 20 June 2005 after carrying a letter from a candidate alleging fraud in the first round of the presidential elections.

"Banning newspapers simply for publishing a letter from a candidate, does not bode well for the future of press freedom in Iran after the election," RSF said.

"We urge the authorities to revoke these suspensions, which seriously damage the debate of ideas that is essential in an election period."

Mehri Karubi, a candidate in the recent elections who was defeated after the first round on 19 June, sent an open letter to the Supreme Guide, Ali Khamenei, complaining of "illegal interventions" by the Guardians of the Revolution and Islamist militia during the elections, allegedly with Khamenei's consent. Karubi also called for a recount of ballots in some constituencies.

A few hours after the letter was published by the main news websites, including that of the Iranian Student's News Agency (ISNA) and the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), it was pulled. On the morning of 20 June, Tehran's prosecutor-general ordered a halt to printing of the four newspapers which had also published the letter. Scores of publications have recently been closed for criticism of the Supreme Guide.

"This decision once again comes from the national security high commission which, under the control of President Khatami, sets limits not be crossed by newspapers on a daily basis and which Reporters Without Borders has recently asked to halt its abusive interventions."

Elsewhere, journalist Akbar Ganji and lawyer and writer Nasser Zarafshan, still on hunger strike to demand medical care, have not yet succeeded and are at risk of dying.