آخرین مطالب en http://aoij.org 2009-05-07 The violation of three media rights, crossing the warning limit The press in Iran experienced a difficult situation in the year 2008-2009. The year their three media rights i.e. 1) the right to enjoy free press publishing, 2) the right to have job security and 3) the right to have judicial security in Judiciary was under the harshest pressures from the press preventive system. Press preventive system has made the system of issuance license, by the government within the framework of Press Law, as official and has obviated the system of information-giving and supervision over the country's affairs by the people, as the fourth pillar of democracy. This system is in contradiction with the principles mentioned in chapter three of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran i.e. the chapter devoted to the rights of nation especially article 37 asserting that no one is considered offender from the viewpoint of Constitution, unless s/he is proved to be offender in a competent court. On the contrary, in the press preventive system, the press and its staff are liable to criminal behavior, unless the contrary is proved. That is why in the year 2008-2009, there have been 555 pieces of news in the News Agencies, websites and legal newspapers of the country. Unfortunately, due to the ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=896 2009-02-04   In the present autumn, 160 pieces of news were devoted to the three rights of media including: 1- The right to publish free press, 2- Job and professional security of journalists, 3- Judiciary security in courts for journalists. This is while it amounted to 130 pieces of news in the last spring and summer. In comparison, the number of pieces of news covering the said issues has had a rise of 52% as comparing summer to spring and 87.5% as comparing autumn to spring. There has also been an increase of 23.5% as comparing autumn to summer.   The number of pieces of news devoted to the violation of the three mentioned media rights in spring has been 63 cases out of 86, and 121 cases out of 130 in summer, and 141 cases out of 160 in autumn and it has witnessed an increasing trend.   The growth in the violation of media rights in the summer as compared to spring has been 91.5% , autumn to spring amounted to 123% and comparing autumn to summer, it has been 17%.   Table 1 is about the violation of media rights in the last three seasons and table 2 is the percentage of the increase in the number of news of each season as compared to the base season i.e. spring and the percentage of growth in violation of media rights   Table 1- Cases of violation of media rights in the last three ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=613 2009-01-17   The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today protested at the charges levelled by Israeli prosecutors against two Palestinians journalists for broadcasting information subject to military censorship."We condemn these charges which just prove the hypocrisy and double standards applied by Israel in Gaza," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Israel uses the law to enforce its military dictate on journalists while it fails to implement the order of the country's highest court allowing media access to Gaza."According to press reports, the two journalists Hadir Shaheen 34, and Mohammed Sarhan, 26, who worked for Al-Alam TV in Ramallah have been indicted on Tuesday for reporting on the deployment of Israeli soldiers into Gaza without clearance from Israeli censor authorities. Prosecutors claim that the report, which was broadcast on Arabic news channels, including those available in the Gaza Strip, could have been seen by Hamas fighters."These charges deal a serious blow to Israel's claim that the ban in Gaza on foreign media is justified on security grounds," added White. "The real reason is the determined effort by Israel to deny media their independence in reporting on its activities in Gaza. This is a cynical attempt to use media for military purposes and ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=555 2009-01-17  17 Jan 2009 10799  To Mr Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary GeneralBy fax and by e-mail  Dear Sir, Israeli Targeting of Media in Conflict Zone and Denial of Access to Gaza We write on behalf of the ASSOCIATION OF IRANIAN JOURNALISTS representing 4,000 journalists express our grave concern about the denial of access for the international media to Gaza by the Israeli authorities and, further, to ask you to investigate Israel for its targeting of media in contravention of International Humanitarian Law and, specifically, Resolution 1738 of the United Nations Security Council. We are dismayed that Israel is violating international law, ignoring its own Supreme Court and showing contempt for the United Nations by defying its obligations under Resolution 1738 to protect journalists in conflict zones.  Israeli military have made targeted attacks on media on two specific occasions – on December 28 when Israeli aircraft struck the television station Al Aqsa and on January 9 when there was a double air strike on the Al-Johara Tower in Gaza City, a building was clearly marked as housing media staff and where up 20 news organisations were based. There are also reports that media staff travelling in vehicles clearly marked with “Press” and “TV” have come under Israeli fire. In ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=554 2009-01-10 The Association of Iranian Journalists continues to express its objections to suspension of press by the Press Supervisory Board, including the latest suspension of Kargozaran newspaper and its employees losing their jobs.   The Association requests the Board to stop this trend. Unfortunately, the performance of this Board has endangered the atmosphere of press career and has threatened the job security and professional independence of journalists and press.   The continuation of this way of behaviour will result in the weakening of fourth pillar of democracy and public supervision of the press on the administration of the country’s affairs and the final result would be deprivation of the authorities of the supervision of press and journalists on the events occurring in the society. The loss arising from this situation mostly targets the authorities. The existence and stability of the Islamic republic system is tightened to the full observation of the Constitution, in particular the elements of freedom and democracy. In the view point of this Association, the performance of the Press Supervisory Board in suspending press is not in consistence with the Constitution and the related laws.   The Press Supervisory Board, in continuation of the trend it has adopted since the ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=527 2009-01-10 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran has expressly put emphasis on the freedom of speech and press specially in article 9. Although very stern amendments were applied to the Press Law by the fifth parliament, as compared to the period of war between Iran and Iraq , and many journalists at that time objected to such amendments, still it is expected that the same law would be implemented without restrictive interpretations and discriminations. Meanwhile, the role of Press Supervisory Board is of significance; however, since the ninth government has got the power and the members of the Board have formed a homogenous group with regard to intellectual and political stances, no attempt for enhancement of press freedom within the framework of Law and with a developing attitude has been observed and the trend has been even the other way round. Instead of developing freedom, limitations have developed and instead of making interpretations from Law which are in the benefit of THE society, citizens and press, specific and limiting understandings of the Law especially regarding press violations cases have lead the sovereignty to practically tend to implement harsher punishments. Issuance of suspension orders by this Board has been repeated so much that it has become an ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=526 2009-01-10 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the world of journalism to raise its voice in protest over Israeli government pressure on media trying to cover the Gaza conflict. The Government has imposed a blockade on the world's media trying to report on the crisis inside Gaza.The IFJ call comes as another Palestinian journalist was reported killed - the fourth  victim of recent Israeli military action in Gaza. Eyhab Al Wahidi , who worked as a cameraman for the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation  in Gaza, was killed with his wife and mother in law yesterday when Israeli troops shelled their home in Gaza city. The family children were injured."The media crisis in Gaza has become intolerable," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "The systematic manipulation and control of media trying to report on Gaza and the casualties being sustained inside the territory require a concerted response from the world's media."Despite an Israeli Supreme Court ruling ordering the government to allow a limited pool of journalists to enter Gaza, the army continues to block entry. Yesterday, two Israeli channels and the BBC were permitted to briefly accompany Israeli ground forces, but there is no hint that the government will permit journalists unfettered access to ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=525 2008-12-22 Federation of Journalists(IFJ) today condemned the decision of the United States military authorities in Iraq to remand in detention Ibrahim Jassam Mohammed, an Iraqi journalist freelance photographer , whose release was ordered by the Iraqi Central Criminal Court last month."We strongly condemn this decision which makes a mockery of the coalition's handover of powers to Iraqi sovereign institutions," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.According to media reports, the U.S military said Ibrahim will remain in prison on the grounds of security risk he poses and his release will be processed according to his individual threat level.The Iraqi Central Criminal Court ordered Ibrahim's release on 30 November after prosecutors had admitted he had no case to answer and dropped charges against him.The IFJ reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ibrahim"The American military officials in Iraq should stop interfering with the Iraqi justice and free Ibrahim." added http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=451 2008-12-22    The Press Supervisory Board issued the permit for issuance of 21 journals. Mohammad Parvizi, the Managing Director of Domestic Press and News Agencies said that in the meeting of 03.12.2008 that the Press Supervisory Board agreed with issuance of a newspaper, 6 monthly, 17 quarterly and 2 bi-quarterly journals.   http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=450 2008-11-23  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today condemned the 20-daysuspension of Al Emirate Al Yaoum (Emirate Today) newspaper ordered by the Emirati Court of Appeal on 18 November 2008 in a defamation case. "We are concerned that this disproportionate ruling will seriously undermine the ability of journalists to investigate and report on issues of public interest," said IFJ general Secretary Aidan White. The Court also fined the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Sami Al-Alraymi and Abdellatif Alsayegh, chief executive officer of the Arab Media Group, the   publisher, 20.000 Dirham (4.400 Euro) each.The case concerned a report published by Al Emirate Al Yaoum in 2005 on doping of race horses at the Emirates-based Warsan Stables which subsequently brought the lawsuit against the newspaper. The two journalists have lodged an appeal against the ruling.Mohamed Yousef, chairman of UAE Journalists Association, an IFJ affiliate, said: "The suspension of a newspaper is a collective punishment of journalists and breaches the principle of individual responsibility. We are confident that the UAE Supreme Court will reverse this ruling." The Journalists Association-UAE is engaged in negotiations with the National Assembly in the country to reform the Press and Publication law. ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=394 2008-11-19    The ninth article of the Constitution expresses that: In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the freedom, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the country are inseparable from one another, and their preservation is the duty of the government and all individual citizens. No individual, group, or authority, has the right to infringe in the slightest way upon the political, cultural, economic, and military independence or the territorial integrity of Iran under the pretext of exercising freedom. Similarly, no authority has the right to abrogate legitimate freedoms, not even by enacting laws and regulations for that purpose, under the pretext of preserving the independence and territorial integrity of the country.   Unfortunately despite these express statements, we often witness measures taken by some establishments, which are themselves supposed to be preserving the Constitution, its execution and defending the rights and citizen freedoms in particular for press and journalists. Their measures cannot be called anything but violating law and lack of adherence to legitimate freedom and citizen rights. Continuous suspension and license cancellation of the press have been among the measures and approaches taken in recent years.   We postpone evaluation of the performance ... http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=376 2008-11-19 Press jury convicted the managing director of Doran-e-Emrooz newspaper, Hamid Reza Zahedi, after hearing his defences, but he was considered entitled to receive mitigation of punishment. The managing director of Doran-e-Emrooz newspaper was convicted of spreading false news and untrue stories to provoke public opinion. Press jury also convicted him of making propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran unanimously; however, he was considered entitled to receive mitigation of punishment. The court hearing session dealing with the accusations of the managing director of Doran-e-Emrooz was held in Br. no. 1083 of Criminal Court headed by Judge Hosseinian in the presence of Press Jury. http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=335 2008-11-19 Press Deputy of the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance said that Shahrvand Emrooz journal was banned since it did not observe the limit of subject areas which had been determined for the said journal by the Press Supervisory Board. Alireza Malekian added that Press Supervisory Board banned the said journal as per paragraph B of Article 7 of Press Law, stating that there are inconsistencies between the subject areas allowed in the issuance permit and what is actually published. He said that several notices were advised to the managers of this journal in this respect, but no action was taken on their part. http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=334 2008-11-19 The first issue of Vatan-e-Emrooz was published. Reza Shakibaee, the editor of newspaper said that already 21 issues are published and they were distributed in limited areas. He added that the newspaper will cover political, social, cultural, sports and etc. evenly and therefore no particular field is focused on. The license holder and managing director of this newspaper is Mehrdad BazrPash and it received its issuance permit from the Press Supervisory Board 10 months ago. http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=333 2008-11-19 The secretariat of Press Supervisory Board has issued a statement:Shahrvand-e-Emrooz weekly was today banned due to publishing subject areas inconsistent with the areas permitted and due to the ignorance of it managers to the previous notices. According to Fars News Agency, Press Supervisory Board announced that the case was reviewed in the meeting and the Board unanimously voted to suspension of the journal as per the paragraph B of article 7 of Press Law and the Note on Article 12 of the said law, due to publishing a journal whose content area is inconsistent with what was determined in the issuance permit and since the managers of the journal ignored previous notices. The statement added that based one the issued permit, the weekly should focus on Economic, Cultural and Sports areas. However, great part of the content was irrelevant to the above. The Public Relations of Press Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance reported that Press Supervisory Board has finally pointed out that while respecting freedom of media & press and emphasizing the need for exchange of ideas and thoughts, we expect the ones involved in the press domain who are making the public culture of the society, to oblige themselves more than others to observing laws ad regulations. http://aoij.org/news.php?lng=en&id=332