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Ahmadinejad ally jailed and reformist daily closed in Iranian power struggle Ahmadinejad ally jailed and reformist daily closed in Iranian power struggle
(35 minutes later)
Judicial officials in Iran have jailed the press adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and issued an arrest warrant for the managing director of Shargh, a reformist newspaper shut down over a cartoon deemed insulting.Judicial officials in Iran have jailed the press adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and issued an arrest warrant for the managing director of Shargh, a reformist newspaper shut down over a cartoon deemed insulting.
Ali Akbar Javanfekr, a close ally of the Iranian president, who is also the head of the state Irna news agency, was taken to prison on Wednesday to serve a six-month prison term as Ahmadinejad was addressing the UN general assembly in New York, local agencies reported. Ali Akbar Javanfekr, a close ally of the Iranian president and the head of the state Irna news agency, was taken to prison on Wednesday to serve a six-month prison term as Ahmadinejad was addressing the UN general assembly in New York, local agencies reported.
The president's top aide was put on trial last year for "publishing materials contrary to Islamic norms", a reference to the publication of a series of articles about the chador, the full-length cloak worn by Iranian women.The president's top aide was put on trial last year for "publishing materials contrary to Islamic norms", a reference to the publication of a series of articles about the chador, the full-length cloak worn by Iranian women.
The judiciary's move against Javanfekr is seen as the latest setback for Ahmadinejad and his team in an extraordinary power struggle at the top of the Iranian regime between conservatives close to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on one side and those supporting the president on the other. The judiciary's move against Javanfekr is seen as the latest setback for Ahmadinejad and his team in an extraordinary power struggle at the top of the Iranian regime between conservatives close to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and those supporting the president .
Previous attempts to arrest Javanfekr had failed due to what is believed to be Ahmadinejad's protection. Last November, the authorities raided the daily government newspaper Iran and tried to force their way into the offices to arrest Javanfekr while he was conducting a press conference but his arrest was halted due the president's direct intervention. Ahmadinejad's presence in New York is believed to have paved the way for Javanfekr's jailing. Previous attempts to arrest Javanfekr had failed owing to what is believed to be Ahmadinejad's protection. Last November, the authorities raided the daily government newspaper Iran and tried to force their way into the offices to arrest Javanfekr while he was conducting a press conference. But direct intervention from the president prevent his arrest. Ahmadinejad's presence in New York is believed to have paved the way for Javanfekr's jailing.
The controversy over Javanfekr stems from the publication of one article in Iran daily in which Ahmadinejad's former media adviser, Mehdi Kalhor, criticised the black colour of Iranian chadors, saying they did not originate from Persian culture but rather were imported from the west. The controversy over Javanfekr is linked to the publication of one article in Iran daily in which a former Ahmadinejad media adviser, Mehdi Kalhor, also criticised the chadors, saying they did not originate from Persian culture but rather were imported from the west.
Analysts, however, link the arrest to the confrontation between Ahmadinejad's inner circle, including Javanfekr, and their conservative rivals in parliament and the judiciary. Ahmadinejad's allies, such as his controversial chief of staff and close confidant Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, are accused of attempting to undermine clerical power, especially Khamenei's supremacy, and favouring cultural openness and nationalism. Analysts, however, link the arrest to the confrontation between Ahmadinejad's inner circle, including Javanfekr, and their conservative rivals in parliament and the judiciary. Ahmadinejad's allies, such as his controversial chief of staff and close confidant, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, are accused of attempting to undermine clerical power, especially Khamenei's supremacy, and favouring cultural openness and nationalism.
Meanwhile, the authorities closed down the reformist daily Shargh on Wednesday for publishing a cartoon that hardliners suspect mocked the Iranian soldiers who fought the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.Meanwhile, the authorities closed down the reformist daily Shargh on Wednesday for publishing a cartoon that hardliners suspect mocked the Iranian soldiers who fought the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.
Hadi Heidari, a leading cartoonist, is reported to have been summoned for questioning over his drawing of a queue of men following each other wearing blindfolds. Hardliners took offence, claiming the cartoon mocked Iran's martyrs and former soldiers with its reference to the headbands worn by Iranian fighters.Hadi Heidari, a leading cartoonist, is reported to have been summoned for questioning over his drawing of a queue of men following each other wearing blindfolds. Hardliners took offence, claiming the cartoon mocked Iran's martyrs and former soldiers with its reference to the headbands worn by Iranian fighters.
On Wednesday conservatives and, in particular, the semi-official Fars news agency, which is affiliated to the elite revolutionary guards, started a campaign against Shargh, calling on the authorities to close it down. MPs were reported to have signed a petition against the newspaper and the minister for culture and Islamic guidance, Mohammad Hosseini, stepped into the controversy by saying the cartoon "insulted the values of the revolution".On Wednesday conservatives and, in particular, the semi-official Fars news agency, which is affiliated to the elite revolutionary guards, started a campaign against Shargh, calling on the authorities to close it down. MPs were reported to have signed a petition against the newspaper and the minister for culture and Islamic guidance, Mohammad Hosseini, stepped into the controversy by saying the cartoon "insulted the values of the revolution".
A warrant for the arrest of Shargh's managing director, Mehdi Rahmanian, has been issued and local agencies reported that he was due to be taken to Tehran's notorious Evin prison. A warrant for the arrest of Shargh's managing director, Mehdi Rahmanian, has been issued and local agencies reported that he was due to be taken to Evin prison in Tehran.
It is not the first time that Shargh has fallen foul of the Iranian authorities for publishing a cartoon and the daily has been shut down numerous times over recent years. Many of Shargh's journalists have also been subjected to state intimidation and arrest in recent years.It is not the first time that Shargh has fallen foul of the Iranian authorities for publishing a cartoon and the daily has been shut down numerous times over recent years. Many of Shargh's journalists have also been subjected to state intimidation and arrest in recent years.
Earlier this year, another Iranian cartoonist, Mahmoud Shokraye, was sentenced to 25 lashes for a caricature of a local MP but widespread condemnation of his conviction forced the MP to withdraw his complaint.Earlier this year, another Iranian cartoonist, Mahmoud Shokraye, was sentenced to 25 lashes for a caricature of a local MP but widespread condemnation of his conviction forced the MP to withdraw his complaint.