Iran’s conservatives consolidated their grasp on the levers of power in last week’s election and seem determined to drain the life from the country’s media:
Iran has launched a fresh offensive on the media after the country’s election in which the conservatives strengthened their hold on the parliament at the expense of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Since the weekend election, nine magazines have been closed under orders from the judiciary, while another 13 have received a written warning.
The government targeted seven magazines that focus on cinema and theatre and two monthlies that publish in Iranian Kurdistan.
The magazines have been accused of being messengers of cultural corruption after publishing photos and interviews with western actors and actresses.