Islamic Republic focuses on media violations

Tehran Prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi

In a press conference, Tehran Prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi reported the establishment of a Culture and Media Court and commented on the question of allowing political prisoners out on bail.

ISNA reports that Jafari Dowlatabadi announced that legal cases concerning the media will be investigated from now on by the special Culture and Media Court.

He maintained that their objective in establishing this court is to “better process media cases, interact with the media and exploit media potentialities in support of Revolutionary values.”

He added that the “media wars against the Islamic Republic” along with the “policies of civil disobedience” have gained greater momentum and thus the judiciary hopes to “be more effective in matters concerning the media, books, art, music and culture.”

Tehran’s prosecutor also added that seven detainees charged with espionage and 20 post-election detainees are awaiting trial in Evin Prison.

He added that giving leave to prisoners who are repentant is advisable since it separates them from “the seditious movement.”

Iranian authorities refer to the post-election protests against the alleged fraud in the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “sedition.”

The opposition has often challenged this claim saying that their protests are in accordance with the Islamic Republic constitution and not a seditious act.

Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi added that clearly those who “violate the terms of their commitments during their leave, issue announcements, pursue party activities and continue the very activities for which they were convicted in the first place, will be recalled back to prison and I firmly announce that there will be no such furloughs.”

On Friday, Ayatollah Jannati, head of Iran’s Guardian Council, rebuked the judiciary for letting those he described as “seditious detainees” out on bail.

Tehran Prosecutor maintained that he has met with the head of the Guardian Council and clarified the position of the judiciary.

The Islamic Republic arrested numerous political and social activists in the post-election protests in order to defuse the people’s demand for a renewed and transparent presidential election.

Some have been released on heavy bails and threatened with a recall if they persist in the protest activities.