Iran blocks Alef news site over revelations about new minister
Published: Wednesday, August 13, 2008
23:44GMT—7:44PM/EST
KORDAN – ALEF WEBSITE – OXFORD UNIVERSITY – INTERIOR MINISTRY
Washington, 12 August (IranVNC)—Iran’s special prosecutor for government employees today blocked the news website Alef, close to the so-called pro-change principle-ist [Osulgarayan-e Tahavol-khah] faction of Iran’s Majlis [parliament] without giving a specific reason.
Alef news website, which blogis to Ahmad Tavakkoli, Elias Naderan, and a few other most influential members of the conservative Majlis faction, was shut based on a complaint filed by the legal deputy of the office of the president.
According to Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, the official reason for the closure of the website has not been given. However, the semi-official Fars News Agency gave as reason, the falsehood of the revelations published on the website regarding, Ali Kordan’s honorary doctorate degree from Oxford University, as the reason for this filtering.
Alef website was the first media source to publically raise doubts about Kordan’s academic credentials, accusing him of falsifying an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. The website had called for his dismissal or resignation, while the Majlis was still holding his confirmation hearings.
According to Fars News Agency, Tavakoli, who is the Majlis director of research, reacted to the news of the closure of Alef website by saying: “The filtering of Alef website is a sign of the government’s narrow-mindedness, its failure to be accountable, and is also a sign of Tehran prosecutor’s illegal move, which is a step against freedom and against law.”
He added: “I warn the Tehran prosecutor to not overstep his legal jurisdiction and to let go of this illegal action and make-up for this ugly act.”
The influential deputy continued: “The rational response to Alef website’s exposé should have been for the interior minister to apologize to the nation and to resign.”
The Interior Ministry had announced two days ago that any media doubting the veracity of interior minister’s educational certificates will face “legal prosecution”.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency, Fars News Agency
© IranVNC 2008. All rights reserved.
(Original written in Persian.)