A hardline court in Iran has closed down two leading reformist newspapers -on the same day that a veteran journalist was reported to have been sentenced to eight years in prison. 

The actions followed a lull in the crackdown on the news media by Iran's conservative judiciary. The two newspapers banned were the government daily Iran and the independent Bonyan.

The daily Iran - run by the country's official news agency - was accused of "insulting religious sanctities and publishing lies." Bonyan was shut down for alleged press violations. 

The ban on Iran came just as the newspaper was reporting that an eight-year prison term was imposed on veteran Iranian journalist Siamak Pourzand. He was found guilty of "acting against national security." The veteran newsman reportedly confessed to being in touch with exiles close to the son of the late Shah of Iran. He was said to have told the court that he provided information to the exiles in hopes of creating a pluralist society in Iran. 

Dozens of liberal journalists have been jailed in Iran in the last two years in a crackdown against reformists allied with Iranian President Mohamad Khatami. The crackdown had been eased recently, with some journalists released on bail and fewer publications closed. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters. 

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version