Back to Brief on Iran
WASHINGTON - The United States, in a departure from a recent warming of relations, on Tuesday expressed concern over Iran's sentencing of four members of the Bahai faith and condemned persecution of Bahai followers.
"We are deeply concerned about the recent sentencing to prison of four Iranian citizens for the exercise of their Bahai faith," the White House said in a statement.
The statement was referring to the sentencing of four instructors from the Bahai Institute of Higher Education.
The four, arrested as part of a crackdown last year, were convicted for teaching Bahai religious classes and sentenced to terms ranging from three to 10 years, the White House said.
"We condemn the Iranian government's
persecution of the followers of the Bahai faith and we urge President Khatami
to ensure the immediate release of all Bahais who have been imprisoned
for the observance and expression of their religion."
Kharrazi Seeks to Expand Suppression To US Streets, Agence France Presse, April 21
TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi welcomed Wednesday conciliatory remarks by US President Bill Clinton but stressed that a "diplomatic smile" was not enough and there must be a "change in behavior."
Kharazi demanded that the United States stop supporting the People's Mujahedeen, the main armed Iranian opposition group.
"The US should prosecute such terrorist
groups and avoid accusing Iran of supporting terrorism," he said.
[Following Mullahs Foreign Minster's emboldened demands from U.S., a statement by the National Council of Resistance of Iran said: "In this way, mullahs are using the US State Department's placating policies toward the ruling theocratic regime to expand their suppression and terror in Iran to the streets of the United States…
"The mullahs… are now shamelessly
demanding the prosecution of Iranian refugees and victims of the clerical
regime’s atrocities," the NCR said in its statement.]
Conservatives Step Up Attacks, Agence France Presse, April 21
TEHRAN - An impeachment bill against a key minister, pressure on the press, the jailing of a cleric -- these are just the latest attacks by the conservative regime.
Political tensions, already high for several weeks, reached a new crescendo Wednesday with the submission to parliament of a censure motion against Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani.
Mohajerani was given 10 days to explain himself to parliament and to solicit a new vote of confidence.
The conservative-dominated parliament is critical of his supervision of the press and growth of "vulgar movies" during his term in office, according to the official IRNA news agency.
His alleged sins also include "encouraging establishment of relations with the United States ... harming the national unity ... and insult against various institutions," IRNA said.
Above all, he allowed newspapers to promote the resumption of relations with the United States, they said.
In another blow Wednesday, cleric and university professor Mohsen Kadivar was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a special, ultra-conservative clerical court.
Kadivar was convicted of spreading propaganda hostile to Iran's Islamic regime. He was detained in February for writing a number of articles calling for political life in the Islamic republic to have more autonomy from religion.
Parliament also decided in principle
to remove pro-Khatami Hamshahri newspaper from the direct control
of Tehran's city hall, paving the way for a possible takeover by conservatives.
Press Digest, Reuter, April 21
TEHRAN - These are some of the leading stories in Iranian newspapers on Wednesday.
JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI - An anti-American seminar will be held in the Tabas desert in central Iran, the site of a 1980 landing by U.S. planes during a failed attempt by the United States to free hostages held at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
SALAM - More than 300 workers of an industrial plant gathered in front of the Industry Ministry for eight hours on Tuesday to protest against not being paid for the past year.