Iran's President Rouhani criticizes hard-line officials for media crackdown
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Iran's moderate-leaning president has strongly criticized hard-line officials for ordering reformist newspapers shut down.
Judicial authorities ordered two pro-reform newspapers — Aseman and Bahar — closed in recent months on allegations of questioning Islamic principles.
President Hassan Rouhani told reporters Saturday that it was wrong to close down a newspaper on its first offense just because one writer was seen as inappropriate. His comments were broadcast live on state TV.
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Rouhani said his opponents were free to attack him. Hard-line media has denounced the historic nuclear deal his administration reached with world powers in Geneva last year a "poisoned chalice."
Iran's hard-line judiciary has shut down more than 150 pro-reform newspapers and jailed dozens of editors and writers, often on vague charges of insulting authorities, since 2000.