Another Official in Iran's Judiciary Warns Media

Continuing the judiciary's warnings to the media, on Tuesday, the Tehran Prosecutor General also warned media outlets that they do not have the right to publish 'false' news and reports under the pretext of 'information dissemination' and 'create public confusion'. The Mehr News Agency reported on Tuesday, September 6, citing Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, that 'some' news websites and media 'should pay attention that when they publish the details of individuals without proving a crime in judicial authorities, they create grounds for defamation of individuals'. The warning from the Tehran Prosecutor General to the media comes a day after the head of the judiciary criticized the publication of names of individuals involved in financial violations in Tehran's municipality, stating: 'What does it mean that the names of individuals whom the Inspection Organization has inquired about are published?' Sadeq Amoli Larijani, three days earlier, had also requested in a letter to the Attorney General to 'take action' against 'violating' media regarding the disclosure of the transfer of municipal properties to city council members. One day after this letter, the judiciary blocked two news agencies, Mowj and Borna, and several news websites, including Pouyesh, 9 Sobhe, and Persian Khodro, due to complaints against them, although it is not yet entirely clear that all these media were blocked in connection with the Tehran municipality case. The Architecture News website last week published reports about the transfer of municipal properties to managers of this institution and individuals outside this organization, naming Mohsen Pirhadi, Elaheh Rastgoo, Masoumeh Abad, Hadi Saei, and Abolfazl Ghanavati as several members of the Tehran City Council who were granted properties in northern Tehran at discounted prices. Reports related to allegations of financial corruption in Tehran's municipality have received widespread coverage in Iranian media and social networks. The Tehran prosecutor also emphasized in his remarks on Tuesday that the prosecutor's office 'will act according to the law regarding the responsible managers of media and news websites that act outside the framework of their designated duties'. The former CEO of Bank Dey has been arrested. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, in another part of his remarks on Tuesday, announced the arrest of the former CEO of Bank Dey in connection with the report of the Islamic Consultative Assembly's investigation into the Martyrs Foundation. According to the Tehran prosecutor, this report regarding 'the part related to Bank Dey' has been referred to the investigation branch of the Government Employees Prosecutor's Office, and 'the other part of the report is under review and action'. The Islamic Consultative Assembly approved and implemented the investigation into the Martyrs Foundation during the ninth term and simultaneously with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's second government. Reports published in late 2014 from members of the parliamentary investigation committee indicated allegations of economic corruption and billion-dollar embezzlements in this government agency under the supervision of the Supreme Leader. Masoud Zaribafan, the then-head of the foundation, reacted to these reports by saying: 'Cursed be the father of anyone who has lied about financial issues in the Martyrs Foundation during my management.' Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, recently stated that the investigation into the Martyrs Foundation 'cost the parliament several hundred million', but in the end, 'we did not understand what happened at all.'