Posted on 04/27/2004 11:05:46 AM PDT by nuconvert
Press Freedom Society Meets with (Grand Ayatollah) Montazeri
•The board members of the society for defense of press freedom met with high-ranking dissident cleric Ayatollah Hosseinali Montazeri in Qum. Defending freedom of the press is defense of people and the society, Montazeri said. Some officials consider themselves custodians of the people, whereas according to the law, all citizens have the right to express themselves freely, Montazeri added. The society for defense of press freedom holds annual meetings in Qum at the offices of various top clerics, Tehran-based lawyer and human rights activist Mohammad Seifzadeh who was present at the meeting, tells Radio Farda. The Ayatollah said so long as opponents have not resorted to violence and weapons, they should remain immune from prosecution. No one should be prosecuted for expressing his views, Montazeri added, according to Seifzadeh. (Fereydoun Zarnegar)
Union Asks Judiciary to Overturn Long-Term “Temporary” Bans on Newspapers
•The national trade association of journalists asked the judiciary to consider lifting the “temporary” bans it placed last year on scores of reformist and independent newspapers and magazines. By law, no judicial ban on publication of a newspaper can last more than 10 days, after which a court must decide on the charges against that publication, Tehran-based lawyer and freedom of press advocate Ahmad Bashiri tells Radio Farda. (Fereydoun Zarnegar)
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