Iran’s Press Still Behind Bars

Iran’s ruling hard-line clerics may feel compelled to tolerate free elections, but they have drawn the line at allowing a free press. Elections gave reform-minded Mohammad Khatami the presidency three years ago and put moderates in control of parliament last May. But both institutions are all but powerless, given the authority vested in religious courts and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As in all authoritarian countries, control of society requires controlling the press. Khamenei and the Islamic courts are determined to have the final say on what Iranians can read and hear.

This week authorities closed another pro-reform newspaper, the 22nd since April to be silenced. Once again, the crackdown was justified by allegations of “disturbing public opinion” and “insulting Islamic sanctities.” Even more ominous was Khamenei’s order to parliament to drop consideration of a bill to amend the harsh press code. The legislation would have barred courts from demanding the names of newspaper staff members as a step in preventing banned publications from reopening under different names. And it would have removed some of the arbitrariness from the press regulation process by requiring a hearing and a court order before the judiciary could shut down a newspaper.

Jailing journalists and preventing the press from reporting the failures of Iran’s rulers won’t lessen discontent or curb rising demands for change. Khamenei’s intervention to prevent parliament from even debating press law changes, instead of using his veto after a bill passed, shows how deeply ruling conservatives fear even discussions about change. They have reason to worry. The conformity they have enforced by coercion for more than 20 years is being increasingly resisted. It may take a while, but time seems firmly on the side of reform.