Hamshahri (Citizen or Fellow Citizen) is a municipal daily newspaper published in Tehran (AP 18 Apr. 1998; RFE/RL 23 Dec. 2000) and described variously as pro-Khatami (Iran Zamin News Agency 9 Sept. 1998; HRW 1997) "pro-reformist" (ABC News 19 Feb. 2000), or "reformist" (Reporters Sans Frontières Apr. 2001). Claiming a daily circulation of 460,000 (Hamshahri.org 20 March 2001), the newspaper is published in Farsi, and overseen by the Culture and Arts Organization (CAO) of the Tehran Municipal Council (RFE/RL 20 Dec. 1999; ibid. 6 Nov. 2000; Tehran Times 8 Apr. 1999). According to the Tehran Times, the CAO "[works] under the supervision of a Board of Trustees which [includes] the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Head of the Islamic Propagation Organization and the Mayor of Tehran" (ibid.). Please see the brief description of Hamshahri in IRN21053.E. of 28 June 1995.

Hamshahri's managing director is Tehran Mayor, Morteza Alviri (Payvand 10 May 2001; Human Rights Watch 25 Apr. 2000), and its chief editor is Mohammad Artrianfar (New York Times 23 Sept. 2001; The Iranian 2 Mar. 2000; RFE/RL 19 Apr. 1999). Atrianfar and Alviri were both candidates in the 1999 Tehran mayoral election (Tehran Times 10 Mar. 1999; RFE/RL 19 Apr. 1999). Please see below for a partial list of Hamshahri journalists and editors.

According to Reporters Sans Frontières, Ahmad Zeid-Abadi (variously Zeydabadi, Zeidabadi), a journalist for Hamshahri, was arrested by Iranian authorities on 7 August 2000. He was released on bail 28 February 2001, but re-arrested and released on 11-12 March 2001 (Reporters Sans Frontières 7 Jan. 2002; ibid. 9 Mar. 2001; ibid. 13 Feb. 2001; ibid. 7 Aug. 2000). The charges against Zeid Abadi reportedly included

... his 'refusal to appear in court' (ibid. Apr. 2000)

... 'subversive activities against the state' and 'blasphemy,' both charges punishable by the death sentence (ibid. 7 Jan. 2002)

... anti-Islamic propaganda and insulting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini... (Dawn 9 Mar. 2001; Writers in Prison Committee 18 Nov. 2001)

... detention was believed to be related to articles he had published [in 1999] in a number of now-banned reformist newspapers (AP 7 Aug. 2000).

On 24 January 2002, Reporters Sans Frontières included Zeid-Abadi as one of "ten Iranian journalists [who, since August 2000] have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four months to 10 years."

Further incidents of journalists or editors of Hamshahri being arrested or detained could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Research Directorate was unable to obtain a list of journalists or editors who worked for the weekly newspaper Cinema va Varzish (Cinema and Sport) within the time constraints of this Response. Until his imprisonment on 31 December 2000, Cleric Ali Afsahi was reportedly the Director of Cinema va Varzish (alternatively Cinema-Varzish and Cinema-Varzesh) (IRNA 1 May 2001; Inter Press Service 17 Feb. 2001; International Press Institute 2001). An undated entry included in Net Iran News Media Who's Who has the newspaper's "Managing Director" as Mohammad-Reza Jandaqizadeh. According to RFE/RL, the newspaper was warned by the Press Supervisory Board of Iran "for publishing pictures and articles about the 'Satanic regime's movie stars,' giving excessive attention to Western and Indian actors, printing sensational headlines, and disregarding governmental guidelines" (7 Aug. 2000). Further, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report dated 28 August 2000, Afsahi was "summoned to appear at Tehran's conservative Special Court for Clergy (SCC)." On 31 December 2000, he was "defrocked and imprisoned... for 'insulting religious values'" (Gulf News 1 Jan. 2001) in a speech unrelated to Cinema-Varzish (Payvand 1 May 2001; Inter Press Service 17 Feb. 2001; International Press Institute 2001). A 17 February 2001 report by the Inter-Press Service, referred to Cinema-Varzish as "now-banned" (ibid.).

Hamshahri Staff

Morteza Alviri, Managing Director, 1998-present (Payvand 10 May 2001; Human Rights Watch 25 Apr. 2000)

Mohammad Artrianfar, Chief Editor, 1998-present (New York Times 23 Sept. 2001; The Iranian 2 Mar. 2000; RFE/RL 19 Apr. 1999)

Zhila Baniyaqoob columnist, 1998-? (Hamshahri 7-8 Dec. 1998)

Seamak Ghelichjhani, Editor in Chief Sports Page (ibid.)

Hasan Headari, Amanuensis Soccer (Iransports.net 2000)

Reza Khowsravi, columnist after September 1998 fled Iran in 2001 (Resalat 2 Sept. 2001)

Jahangir Kosari, Senior Editor Sports Page (Iransports.net 2000)

Saeed Laylaz, Columnist (ABC News, 19 Feb. 2000)

Shahriar Shams, "a journalist who follows drug issues for the newspaper" (RFE/RL 26 June 2000)

Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, Columnist- Arrested 1999 and sentenced 2002 (Reporters Sans Frontières 24 Jan. 2002; ibid. 7 Jan. 2002; Dawn 9 Mar. 2001; Writers in Prison Committee 18 Nov. 2001

Cinema Varzish Staff

Ali Afsahi, Director, arrested and sentenced 2000, released April 2001 (IRNA 1 May 2001; Inter Press Service 17 Feb. 2001; International Press Institute 2001)

Mohammad-Reza Jandaqizadeh, Managing Director (Net Iran n.d.)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

ABC News 19 February 2000. "Reformers in the Lead." http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/iran_vote000219.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 28 August 2000. "Head of a Film & Sports Newspaper Summoned to Hardline Court." http://www.payk.net/communicationRecord/mailingList/iran-news-current/msg00357.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

Associated Press (AP). 7 August 2000. "Reformist Writer Detained, Paper Closed in Iran." [NEXIS]

_____. 18 April 1998. "Iranian Police Raid Printing Press." [NEXIS]

Dawn [Karachi]. 9 March 2001. "Iran Frees Reformist Journalist on Bail." http://www.dawn.com/2001/03/09/int8,htm [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Gulf News [Dubai]. 1 January 2001. "Iran Court Defrocks, Jails Pro-Reform Cleric." http://www.gulf-news.co,/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=6044 [Accessed 31 January 2002]

Hamshahri [Tehran]. 7 & 8 December 1998. "Hamshahri: Executives Follows Logic, Moderation, Dialogue and Political Campaign." http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/Dpolitics/981207XXDP01.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Hamshahri.org. 20 March 2001. "Hamshahri Newspaper Advertising Rate Card." http://www.hamshahri.org/about/advlatin.htm [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Human Rights Watch. 25 April 2000. "Iran Media Crackdown Condemned." http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/04/iran0425.htm [Accessed 21 January 2002]

_____. May 1997. "Iran: Leaving Human Rights Behind." http://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/iran2/Iran-05.htm [Accessed 21 January 2002

International Press Institute. 2001. "2000 World Press Freedom Review." http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/iran.htm [Accessed 21 January 2001]

Inter Press Service. 17 February 2001. "Leading Jailed Journalists on Hunger Strike." http://www.iraniannationalfront.org/news/2001/02_February/leading_jailed_journalists_on_hu.htm [Accessed 31 January 2001]

Iran Zamin News Agency. 9 September 1998. "Khatami's Ally Set up Revolutionary Guards.' Dungeons." (National Council of Resistence of Iran. 10 Sept. 1998. Brief on Iran No. 982.) http://www.iran-e-azad.org/english/boi/09820910-98.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

The Iranian. 2 March 2000. "High Hopes: Am I Dreaming or is this a New Iran?" http://www.iranian.com/SiamakNamazi/2000/March/Reform [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Iransports.net. 2000. http;//www.iransports.net/caricature/hamshahri [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). 1 May 2001. "Reformist Cleric Freed After Serving Term- Agency." http://www.payvand.com/news/01/may/1001.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 21 January 2001. "Iran Varzeshi." http://www.irna.com/en/press/varzeshi.shtml [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Net Iran News Media Who's Who. n.d. "Cinema Varzesh (Cinema, Sports)." http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/WhosWho/000000WWN160.html [Accessed 1 February 2002]

New York Times. 23 September 2001. Elaine Sciolino. "Who Hates the U.S.? Who Loves It?" http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/23/weekinreview/23SCIO.html [Accessed 5 February 2002]

Payvand. 10 May 2001. "In Support of Freedom of the Press in Iran." http://www.payvand.com/press [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) [Prague]. 23 December 2000. Iran Report. Vol. 3, No. 49. "Tehran's Actions Make Iranian Press 'Not Free.'" [NEXIS]

_____. 6 November 2000. Iran Report. Vol. 3, No. 42. "Councils Struggling for a Role." http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2000/11/42-061100.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 7 August 2000. Iran Report. Vol. 3, No. 30. "Press Debate Postponed Indefinitely." http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2000/08/30-070800.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 20 June 2000. Charles Recknagel and Azam Gorgin. "Afghanistan: Iran And Other Neighbors Face Growing Drug Problems." http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2000/06/f.ru.000626131404.html> [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 20 December 1999. Iran Report. Vol. 2, No. 50. "Problems with Municipal Councils." http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/1999/12/50-201299.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 19 April 1999. Iran Report. Vol. 2, No. 16. "Are the Election Results Really Going to be Final Now?" http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/1999/04/16-190499.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Resalat (Tehran in Persian). "Iran: Reformist Journalist Reportedly Asks for Asylum in Austria." [BBC Monitoring. 2 September 2001 NEXIS]

Reporters Sans Frontières. 24 January 2002. "Iran is Now the Middle East Country Keeping the Most Journalists in Prison. Reporters Without Borders is Launching a Campaign to Bring Facts to Public Attention." http://www.rsf.org/uk/html/mo/cplp01/cp01/220102.html [Accessed 31 January 2002

_____. 7 January 2002. "Opening of the Trial of Ten Journalists." http://www.rsf.org/uk/html/mo/cplp02/cp02/070102.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

_____. April 2001. "Iran: Ali Khamenei. "One of the World's Thirty-Nine Worst Enemies of Press Freedom." http://www.rsf.org/uk/iran.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

_____. 9 March 2001. "A Conservative Weekly Banned." http://www.rsf.org/uk/html/mo/cplp01/lp01/090301a.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

_____. 13 February 2001. "A New Press Professional Imprisoned." http://www.rsf.org/uk/html/mo/cplp01/lp01/130201.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

_____. 7 August 2000. "IRAN: Ali Khamenei Proves Once Again that he is one of the Most Dangerous Predators of Press Freedom." http://www.rsf.org/uk/html/mo/cplp/cp/070800.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Tehran Times. 8 April 1999. "Supervision of Cultural Centers to be Handed Over to CAO." http://www.salamiran.org/Media/TehranTimes/990408.html [Accessed 31 January 2002]

_____. 10 March 1999. "Alviri Refutes His Candidacy for Mayor." http://www.salamiran.org/Media/TehranTimes/990310.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Writers in Prison Committee. 18 November 2001. "Writers in Prison." http://www.wauwau.at/wip/cases/middleeast.html [Accessed 21 January 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Europa Yearbook 1997-2001

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection

Internet Sites Including:

Amnesty International

British Library

Foundation for Democracy in Iran/National Council of Resistance of Iran

Indiana University at Bloomington Central Eurasian Collection

The Iranian

Library of Congress

Middle East News Online

National Library of Canada

National Library of Iran

Netiran.com
RFE/RL

Iran Report

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