Region | Iran
Judiciary told to tackle hostile satellite TV
The head of Iran's judiciary called for the prosecution of people working for increasingly influential anti-establishment satellite TV channels and websites, state television reported.
- Reuters
- Published: 22:54 July 5, 2009
Tehran: The head of Iran's judiciary called on Sunday for the prosecution of people working for increasingly influential anti-establishment satellite TV channels and websites, state television reported.
"The daily growth of anti-regime satellite channels and ... websites needs serious measures to confront this phenomenon," it quoted a circular issued by Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi as saying.
The circular, addressed to branches of the judiciary, called for judicial personnel to be assigned to deal with such violations.
"Those who cooperate with such websites and television channels will face prosecution," hesaid.
For the first time in Iran, foreign-based satellite TV channels, particularly the BBC's Persian TV, and blogs played a big part in providing news and comment about the election. Iranians are more used to hearing political messages blared through loudspeakers on small trucks, seeing gaudy posters and being herded to campaign rallies.
The BBC launched its Persian TV service in January, funded with £15 million pounds ($25 million) a year of British government money.
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