Government Increases Pressure On the Press

On Monday, January 4, 2010, Mohammad Ali Ramin, Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in charge of Press, told the reporters that, “Newspapers who receive notices or are banned are like corrupt and dirty elements which disturb the media landscape and by banning them, we are trying to soften this disturbed environment.”

Mr. Ramin made this statement after a meeting of the Media Oversight Committee in which four newspapers received notices for publishing certain articles.

The Deputy Minister’s statements and recent notices served to several newspapers demonstrate that Iranian government officials have increased their pressure on the press, even for things like their unwillingness to publish certain news stories such as news about top level clergy who are critical of the government.