DATE=12/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN PRESS CONVICTION REACT (L-O)
NUMBER=2-256755
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Some senior Iranian religious leaders are 
criticizing the prison sentence of reformist 
politician and newspaper publisher Abdollah Nouri.  
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Cairo, the 
criticism underscores a growing rift between 
reformists and conservatives prior to Iran's 
parliamentary elections next February.

TEXT:  One of Iran's senior-most religious leaders has 
spoken out in support of Abdollah Nouri, who last 
Saturday began a five-year prison sentence for 
insulting Islam and advocating reforms to the Iranian 
political system.

Grand Ayatollah Ali Montazeri was quoted in local 
newspapers as saying Mr. Nouri's conviction has 
boosted his credibility and honor.  Ayatollah 
Montazeri was once slated to replace the late 
Ayatollah Khomeini, but has been under house arrest 
since 1989 on charges of plotting against the 
government.

The League of Teachers at seminaries in the holy city 
of Qom issued a statement (also published Thursday) 
condemning the sentence, which it said was in open 
legal conflict with the constitution. 

Mr. Nouri was tried before the Special Court of the 
Clergy, created by the late Ayatollah.  But Mr. Nouri 
said during his trial that the court was being used to 
repress political debate and questioned its 
constitutionality. 

Supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who 
controls the special court, defended it recently.  He 
said it is legal and necessary, and the objections 
against it are not valid.

The Special Court of the Clergy and another court, 
often called the Press Court, have been used to 
imprison a number of reformist publishers and close 
their newspapers.  On the day of Mr. Nouri's 
conviction, the Press Court sentenced another 
publisher, Mashallah Shamsolvaezi, to three-years in 
prison.

            /// REST OPT ///

Four reformist Iranian newspapers have been closed 
this year.  The closures have brought criticism from 
international human-rights organizations.  A spokesman 
for Amnesty International, Ben Rowse, told V-O-A the 
courts are being used to limit political debate in 
Iran prior to the elections.

            /// ROWSE ACT ///

      Amnesty International considers both Abdollah 
      Nouri and Mashallah Shamsolvaezi prisoners of 
      conscience.  And we are calling on the Islamic 
      Republic of Iran to release them immediately and 
      unconditionally, and to stop this persecution of 
      journalists and people who are daring to speak 
      out against the conservative hard-liners in the 
      country.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Nouri, a former vice-president and interior 
minister, received the most votes in Tehran's 
municipal elections earlier this year.  But he 
resigned as council chairman, saying he was planning 
to run for speaker of the parliament.  

His conviction bars him from political activity for 
five years. Supporters say, nevertheless, they will 
press on with their campaign to take control of the 
conservative-dominated parliament.

Many in Iran say factional rivalry is dividing the 
Iranian clergy and worry that it could upset the 
timetable for parliamentary elections next February.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/GE/RAE



02-Dec-1999 11:08 AM EDT (02-Dec-1999 1608 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.