Keeping things under control in Tehran
If the news isn't good, control the publication of the news. The Iranian government has a simple method for controlling what foreign journalists report on: keep them out of Iran.Guardian's Tehran correspondent expelled without explanation
"The Guardian's Tehran correspondent, Robert Tait, has been expelled from Iran without explanation after nearly three years of reporting from the country...
"The [culture and Islamic guidance] ministry gave no reason for its decision but said the newspaper was free to propose another journalist as its correspondent in Iran...
"He is the second British journalist to be expelled from Iran in the past six months. Angus McDowall, a correspondent for the Independent, left last July...
"Tait was the last British journalist working in Iran for an English language newspaper. Several other newspapers employ local English-speaking Iranians, often because of difficulties in obtaining resident press credentials for foreign nationals...
"The expulsion comes amid a general crackdown on press freedom in Iran. Several newspapers and websites critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hardline government have been closed over the past year, while those remaining have been forced to resort to self-censorship for fear of crossing officially decreed "red lines". Several Iranian journalists have been detained in recent months for a range of offences, including publishing "lies".
Two other Guardian correspondents were expelled from Iran. Geneive Abdo left in 2001... Dan De Luce was expelled in 2004..."
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:51 AM
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