Iran urges media to trigger ‘enthusiasm’ for election
IRAN: The Iranian government urged the media on Sunday to spur
“enthusiasm” for the June 12 presidential election but warned it against
breaking cultural and ethical guidelines of the Islamic republic.
“The Ministry of Culture, as a servant of the media cannot give
orders, but has requested it to raise enthusiasm for the election,” the
official IRNA news agency said quoting Culture Minister Mohammad Hossein
Safar Harandi.
But Safar Harandi advised the media to “be careful of not breaking
the cultural and ethical guidelines of the society when they are
reporting on the election.”
In a separate statement to IRNA, his deputy, Ali Reza Malekian, said
the media should “publish correct stories and reflect the realities, so
that the ground is prepared for the maximum participation of people in
the election.”
“We hope the media will act fairly and will not resort to anything
which weakens the national interest in a bid to make political gains.”
They spoke as ISNA newsagency reported that reformist daily Yas No
has been stopped from publishing, a day after it returned to news-stands
following a six year ban. Since 2005 when hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
became the president, Iran has seen tighter restrictions on newspapers
and media organisations.
Ahmadinejad is seeking a second term as president and is facing
opposition from three main candidates. former prime minister Mir Hossein
Mousavi and ex-parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi have emerged as his
main opponents, along with former chief of Revolutionary Guards Corp,
Mohsen Rezai.
Tehran, AFP |