1. The new press law formally abolished censorship and allowed individuals to publish newspapers and magazines. 2. Thus the availability of jury trial can have an important effect in securing a liberal operation of apparently draconian press laws. 3. And in an unprecedented claim of authority, Khamenei ordered the new Parliament not to overturn the draconian press law. 4. A key problem, he said, is poor enforcement of the press law. 5. A number of hard-liners, including some in parliament and some on the Council of Guardians, have already signaled that they will fight the new press law. 6. But on Sunday, Khamenei denounced the proposed revision in the press law as a threat to national security and religion. 7. During his brief tenure, he has liberalized press laws, released political prisoners, and brought about the long-awaited referendum on independence in East Timor. 8. He warns that they tried to turn back the clock with a repressive press law and proposed an anti-Western ideologue as defense minister. 9. Instead, Hussein pushed through Parliament a draconian press law that severely curbs freedom of speech. 10. It is one of a dozen cases still pending against El Watan and its editor under a web of restrictive press laws. |