Selected Headlines

Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Iranian press, and excerpts where the source is in English. The link to the news organization or blog is provided at the top of each item. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the story in perspective. You can follow our news feeds on Twitter.

national

Ahmadinejad's speech marred by shouts from crowd

AP | May 24, 2010

A speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a southern port town was marred Monday by shouts from Iranians demanding jobs, a rare show of public discontent over the country's worsening economy.

Ahmadinejad was speaking before hundreds gathered in Khorramshahr, about 625 miles (1,000 kilometers) southwest of Tehran, when his speech was interrupted by people shouting "We are unemployed!"

Iran's economy is struggling under double-digit inflation, 25 percent unemployment.

Iran prepares to release Panahi from Evin prison

Times Online | May 24, 2010

The Iranian Government has indicated that it is preparing to release Jafar Panahi, the award-winning film-maker who has been jailed in Tehran since early March.

Last week, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Court announced that it had instructed the Tehran prosecutor general to re-examine Panahi's case.

"Legal procedures of [Panahi's] case have been almost completed and there is much hope that he will be released soon," said Javad Shamaghdari, Iran's Deputy Minister of Culture, responsible for film, in comments reported by Iran's ISNA news agency.

However, Mr Shamaghdari also criticised the high-profile "propaganda" campaign waged by leading international figures in the arts and politics calling for the director to be freed.

Panahi, 49, has been imprisoned since March 1, when state security forces raided his house in the Iranian capital. He is being held in solitary confinement at Tehran's Evin prison and in recent weeks has gone on hunger strike.

Police crack down on indecent men, women

Khabar Online | May 23, 2010

As of Saturday May 22, Iranian police had launched initiatives in 10 Tehran districts to crack down on anyone deemed to be jeopardizing moral values.

The first day of the initiative targeted women sporting improper hejab and men clad in indecent attire. Police officers stopped cars in which the drivers or passengers were deemed indecently dressed or lacking proper hejab.

Police officers either confiscated the perpetrator's driver's license and ownership documents or impounded the cars.

According to Col. Ghasemlouyi of the police force, the impounded cars were parked on the side of the road and a "Mozahem Navamis Mardom" sign was placed on top of them.

Majles to pass 'call to virtue' legislation

IRNA | May 23, 2010

Majles lawmakers have voted yes to the first part of a bill to make "calling to virtue and forbidding vice" a law.

According to IRNA, 172 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill.

If finalized "calling to virtue and forbidding vice" will allow no one to prevent or hinder this Islamic practice. Offenders will be fined $100 to $500 the first time they attempt to prevent the enforcement of this law. A second offense will range between $500 to $2000 dollars, and if they persist a third time, offenders will either be handed a prison term or exiled from their place of residence.

War hero's wife moved to tears over crackdown on girls

Khabar Online | May 23, 2010

Amid a police initiative to enforce the Islamic dress code, the wife of the martyred war commander Hemat said she cries every time she sees young women harassed by morality police on the streets.

Zhila Badihian who spoke to ILNA about her late husband told ILNA, "As a woman who observes hejab in its complete form, I always tell my friends that if we were in the time of the Prophet or the first Imam our women would not be treated this way."

"I personally have witnessed the way they treat young women on the streets and [it makes me so sad that] I stand in a corner and cry."

Police: Street harassers will be severely punished

Asr Iran | May 23, 2010

Tehran police chief Hossein Sajedinia announced that individuals who harass the people and families in the capital will be arrested.

"Police will crack down on street harassers with all its power and might because this is what the people want."

He added that the initiative was not restricted to a few districts in Tehran and would be extended to the entire capital.

"One of the problems that we encounter in public from time to time is the cars traveling on highways or city streets who have indecently dressed passengers."

"These are organized crimes that are taking place all over the city of Tehran."

"Police are covertly shooting footage of the offenders' vehicles. After obtaining footage, documenting, and identifying the perpetrators, a letter is sent to the home's of the perpetrators and they are summoned to court."

Iran police: We always reject bribes from Mafia

Tabnak | May 23, 2010

Head of the East Azerbaijan police Academy Lieutenant Mohammad Shirifaray said Iranian police refuse bribes from international drug cartels and that Iran was the number one consumer of illegal narcotics in the world.

"Considering the current population [of the world], Iran is currently the number one consumer of narcotics in the world."

"Because Iran is located in the transit rout of drugs, its youth are more at risk of addiction."

"Addiction is a social problem. Aside from the need for more effort on behalf of authorities [to fight drugs], our youth must also try harder to say no to drugs."

"Every year the international drug Mafia asks Iran to accept a considerable sum of money and in return allow drugs to flow into the country, but authorities have always said no to this proposal and have fought it."

Ahmadi-Moqaddam's time up as police chief?

Tabnak | Press TV |
Tabnak | May 23, 2010

While initial reports suggested that the Iran's Supreme Leader had replaced current police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam with an IRGC commander, it was announced that Ahmadi-Moqaddam would command the civil forces for another two years.

Tabnak reported that Ayatollah Khamenei had chosen IRGC commander Seyyed Mohammad Hejazi as Ahmadi-Moqaddam's replacement.

However, deputy police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan dismissed the report as "rumors without basis in reality."

Press TV reported that Ayatollah Khamenei had extended Ahmadi-Moqaddam's term for another two years.

Ahmadi-Moqaddam was appointed as Iran's police chief in 2006, replacing Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, who became Tehran's Mayor.

Hejazi joined the IRGC in the early days of its establishment and simultaneously perused his university studies. He is currently a Ph.D. student of strategic management at the University of National Defense and is also a faculty member at the Imam Hossein University.

In another Sunday decree, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed IRGC commander Akbar Ebrahimzadeh as the deputy head of Iran Armed Forces' General Staff for Basij affairs.

Kayhan revelations about Shajarian coming soon

Asr Iran | May 22, 2010

Kayhan daily's editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari threatened to make revelations about internationally acclaimed traditional Persian singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian.

Shariatmadari described the veteran musician and winner of the UNESCO Mozart Medal as a vagabond musician.

"Unfortunately in his old age he [Shajarian] has become a vagabond musician who by propagating lies and slanderous remarks against Islamic Iran, tries to be in the spotlight in the United States and European countries. We have things to say about him which will definitely be interesting for the people to hear."

Shariatamdari went on to criticize Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, who has been representing Ali-Reza Beheshti, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and other reformist figures, for falsely claiming that Shariatmadari had not appeared in court for the indictment.

"Over the past few months, on average, I have been going to court at least once a week for the indictment hearing based on complaints made against me by the heads of sedition and their cohorts. Evidence for this is in my case file."

"Given that Mr. Alizadeh Tabatabaei is responsible for his claims, I intend to ask the court for permission to offer evidence about his real identity."

Leila Hatami in court for swindling?

Asr Iran | May 22, 2010

Actress Leila Hatami was summoned to branch 38 of the appeals court, which is reviewing swindling charges brought against her.

Leila Hatami, her Husband Ali Mosafa and her mother Zahra Khoshkam have been accused of swindling 5,000 hectares of land in Karaj.

Leila Hatami is the daughter of late Iranian director Ali Hatami and actress Zahra Khoshkam.

Leila and her husband were known as vocal supporters of the Green Movement.

week in green

Episode 24: Interview with Nazila Fathi

TWIG | May 22, 2010

In the 24th episode of The Week in Green, New York Times correspondent Nazila Fathi discusses the advances women have made in Iranian society in recent years and the effect of the ruling regime's policies on journalism inside Iran.