Further attack on Iranian press

Banned: Mohammad Reza Khatami's newspaper

The Iranian press court has banned two more pro-reform newspapers, including a leading daily published by the brother of President Khatami.

The closure of Mosharekat, run by Mohammad Reza Khatami, and of the outspoken Sobh-e Emrouz means 15 papers have now been banned in the recent crackdown on the liberal press.

One conservative weekly publication has also been suspended.

Closed reformist papers, on the left with the black band

The conservative-dominated press court said that both newspapers had violated press laws.

The court warned Mohammad Reza Khatami on Wednesday that it would ban Mosharekat unless it discontinued changes to its format and content.

Mosharekat is the organ of the main reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front.

Sobh-e-Emrouz had already been banned with others on Monday, but the suspension was lifted almost immediately.

It increased its print run to almost two million to make up for the banned publications.

Aimed to hurt

Correspondents say the current bans are aimed at the heart of President Khatami's efforts to liberalise Iranian society.

Some newspapers continue to sell despite the ban

The closures have left almost no reformist daily newspapers on the streets.

The moves have prompted an open exchange of recriminations between different authorities.

The Ministry of Islamic Guidance, which has responsibility for the press, had earlier issued a statement publicly criticising the closures and impugning their legality.

The judiciary has now hit back, taking the ministry to task for supporting what it called publications that had been blatantly breaching Islamic principles.

Khamenei's support

The judiciary also appears to have the support of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who has endorsed the crackdown and urged his supporters not to remain silent.

Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly attacked liberal press

He said in a speech to leading politicians that the pro-reform press was making mountains out of molehills and "turning public opinion against Islam, the revolution and the Islamic system".

"The various streams of opinion faithful to Islam and the revolution must state their positions and condemn those who, inside and outside the country, want to block the revolution, the way of Imam Khomeini, the pre-eminence of the guide, and the constitution under cover of reforms."

Student protests

The crackdown on liberal press provoked student protests in Iran earlier this week.

A protester with one of the banned papers as a hat

Students at some universities registered their protest by boycotting classes. There were no reports of violence or disturbances.

Students and other supporters of the reformist movement have shown a high degree of discipline in following the urging of their leaders not to take to the streets or to react in any way which might prompt a violent crackdown.

At one university campus, students began producing their own improvised newsletter in what may be an indication of what is likely to happen if the reformist press were to be suppressed altogether.