* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International *
News Service 225/99
AI INDEX: MDE 13/29/99
30 November 1999
Iranian Courts used to suppress political opinion and journalistic freedom
The prison sentences handed down to the managing director of the daily newspaper Khordad and the editor of the daily
newspaper Asr-e Azadegan (Era of The Free) reflect the increasing use of special courts to imprison individuals involved
in journalism. They also limit social and political debate in advance of the 19 February 2000 parliamentary (Majlis)
elections, Amnesty International said today.
"Abdollah Nouri and Mashallah Shamsolva'ezin have been imprisoned for publishing articles that express the beliefs of
writers whose views are at odds with elements of the authorities," the organization said. "We consider both men as
prisoners of conscience and call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to release them immediately and unconditionally."
On 27 November Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Nouri of Khordad was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by the Special Court
for The Clergy (SCC) (Dadgah-e Vizhe-ye Ruhaniyat). Mashallah Shamsolva'ezin, of Asr-e Azadegan, was sentenced to three
years' imprisonment by the Press Court.
"What is clear is that these newspapers -- which are a forum for public debate and have dealt with areas that have until
recently been considered taboo -- have come into conflict with powerful groups opposed to any change in the status quo,"
Amnesty International said.
Abdollah Nouri, a former Interior Minister and Vice President, faced 20 charges including accusations of publishing
"anti-Islamic" articles, insulting government officials, promoting friendly relations with the United States of America
and giving publicity to Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, under house arrest since 1997.
Abdollah Nouri, widely seen as an ally of President Khatami, recently resigned from his position on the Tehran city
council and reportedly declared his intention to present himself as a candidate in the February 2000 parliamentary
(Majlis) elections -- where he was tipped to become Speaker, formally the third most powerful position in the country
after the Supreme Leader and President.
In his defence it is reported that he upheld the rights of a variety of groups and theologians to present their views in
his newspapers, a right, he stated that "was protected under the Iranian constitution". He also claimed that the Special
Court for the Clergy (SCC) was "unlawful and incompetent" to deal with this case. Amnesty International has repeatedly
expressed its concerns that trials before the SCC frequently fall short of minimum international standards for fair
trial.
Amnesty International is also concerned about the trial procedures followed in the trial of newspaper editor, Mashallah
Shamsolva'ezin, who was arrested on 2 November on charges of "insulting Islam". This related to articles that appeared
in the now closed newspaper, Neshat (Happiness) for which he was editor. He was not able to post the 500m Rial bail
(approx $167 000) and was detained at Evin Prison.
New charges brought against him alleged that he forged both an article and the signature of an author whose work was
printed in Neshat. The article questioned the the validity of death penalty in Iran.
During his trial Mashallah Shamsolva'ezin questioned the legality of the court, for reasons including the absence of the
Press Court Jury. He reportedly observed that it had "no legal basis".
Under current Iranian press legislation, it is the publisher and the writer rather than the editor of an article who is
legally responsible for the content.
Background While the Iranian press continues to exercise a remarkable degree of independence it has been under recurrent
pressure from opposing factions using the absence of enforceable legal guarantees for freedom of expression.
Abdollah Nouri was tried by the Special Court for the Clergy, whose judges and prosecutor are appointed by the Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and are accountable to him, not the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi
Shahrudi, who was appointed in August.
Indeed, his trial was brought to an abrupt end on 11 November by the judge, Mohammad Selimi, who prevented Abdollah
Nouri from reading out his defence and gave him 10 days to submit the text of his defence. On 17 November it was
reported that the jury declared him guilty on 15 of the 20 charges against him, even before the final defence statement
was delivered.
It has been reported that Abdollah Nouri does not intend to appeal against the sentence, since he did not recognise the
court or its verdict. Following sentencing he was taken to Evin prison and his newspaper Khordad has now been banned for
an indefinite period of time.
The trial of Mashallah Shamsolva'ezin, in Court 1410 -- the court usually used for Press Law cases -- started on 9
November. Judge Said Mortazavi ruled at the outset that the Press Court jury would not be required for the case. During
the trial proceedings, his lawyer, Mohammad Seyfzadeh was sentenced to five days in prison for "disturbing the order of
the court". Mashallah Shamsolva'ezin has previously indicated that he would appeal the sentence.
Both men were ordered to pay fines up to $5000.
Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Amnesty International has
repeatedly urged the authorities to honour the guarantees of fair trial and freedom of expression in accordance with
Articles 14 and 19, respectively of the ICCPR.
For more information please see Iran - Human Rights Violations Against Shi'a Religious Leaders and Their Followers (AI
Index MDE 13/18/97).
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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