Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
“Universities are not ready for gender segregation,” said Hojjat-ol-Eslam Panahian, celebrity cleric, to Iran daily. The publicity stunt by the Minister of Education Kamran Daneshjou to segregate university classes went up in smoke after Ahmadinejad’s letter-- in which he had called the plan “shallow and unrefined”-- was published by the media. In Tehran’s Friday prayers, the 85-year old Ayatollah Jannati stressed that “Sepah and other revolutionary institutions should not inflame the dispute” after a run-in between Ahmadinejad and Sepah commander over military quays. Iran also reported the news of a “nationwide rally for decency and hejab”, held after the Friday prayers ritual by the more religious strand of society infuriated with the progressively receding scarves and thinning manteaus of women,
Jomhouri-ye Eslami also published a large photo of the pro-hejab demonstrations on its front page. The right side of the front page was occupied by Arab world news –a major concern for this daily: “March 14th’s second defeat: Lebanese parliament approves Mikati”, “The Yemeni dictator in his first televised speech after 8 surgeries in Saudi Arabia: I’m ready to share power!” and “Two-pronged progress of revolutionaries towards Tripoli”. The top headline was a quote from the head of General Inspection Organization Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, once Ahmadinejad’s interior ministe –and later his low-key but persistent critic: “Expending the public budget for the election equates embezzlement” –perhaps a warning to the government.
Kayhan’s top headline linked Iran’s missile program to the US military presence in the region: “With successful test firing of Iran’s surface-to-sea missiles: Countdown for US navy’s withdrawal from the Persian Gulf begins”. Kayhan also responded to Ahmadinejad’s soft criticism of the Sepah about its piers, citing the head of Iran Customs Administration: “Military piers import no goods”. It also used its acid tongue against the Reformists, quoting a phrase from its Editor-in-Chief’s speech to the Baseedj arm of the medical community: “Western intelligence services regard Mousavi, Khatami and Karroubi as living fossils”. The newspaper also published a large photo of Iran’s junior weightlifting team, first-time world champions, captioned by a letter of congratulations by the Supreme Leader.
As usual, Resalat top headline comes from its Editor-in-Chief Morteza Nabavi, in case he makes any remarks, this time made in a congregation of Principlists in the northern province of Gilan: “Reformists should express their dissociation from the Fetneh-perptrators” to have a chance to run for parliamentary seats. Maliki’s assertion that “All setbacks to relations with Tehran solved”, and the pro-Hejab demonstrators’ demand that “The government enforce the Hejab and Decency Law” were Resalat’s other headlines.
Shargh’s top headline was also Ayatollah “Jannati’s advice to Sepah”, with the sous-titre “No one has the right to fuel the disputes; above all officials of Sepah and other revolutionary institutions should not do so.” IAEA Chief Yukia Amano’s prognostic remark that his visit to Iran will be fruitless; the popular reception of the traditional music concert held by Homayoun Shajarian, son of Iran’s legendary traditional music singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian; Iran’s top place in the 2011 youth weightlifting games; and soaring prices on the threshold of Ramadan were Shargh’s other headlines.
Tehran-e Emrooz preferred to focus on reactions to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s letter to the higher education minister rejecting the idea of gender segregation and (in some cases forced) resignation of well-known professors of state universities, with the headline “Maraaje’ and religious leaders criticize Ahmadinejad’s opposition to gender segregation of universities: Reactions to the president’s order”. High-ranking cleric Naser Makarem Shirazi, as well as several other clerics, has also lamented the president’s order to cancel the segregation plan.
“The first international victory for iron men” was chosen by Vatan-e Emrooz as the top headline, plus details of the congratulations letter of Ayatollah Khamenei for this maiden championship. “Saleh thanks the Saudi king; dictator showcased after 8 surgeries” and “Vote of confidence for Mikati’s cabinet” were Arab world headlines of the newspaper. From the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, Vatan-e Emrooz made an Iran-benefitting headline: “Big disgrace for Farsi1 owner”. Farsi1 is a popular Persian satellite channel owned by Rupert Murdoch and a powerful rival of the state-run TV.
* Note: Vatan-e Emrooz does not publish on Thursdays.
Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.
Briefing
Hamshahri (Citizen) is the official daily newspaper of Tehran's Municipality. Its general directions in politics, culture and economy are determined by the mayor of Tehran, currently Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Iran is the official organ of the administration.
Jomhouri-ye Eslami (The Islamic Republic) was known as the official organ of the Party of the Islamic Republic, founded in 1979 and disbanded in 1987. Currently, it is an open critique of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies and is known to be a mouthpiece of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
Kayhan (Universe) is a hard-line conservative newspaper. Its editor-in-chief –currently Hossein Shari’atmadari- is appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader. Shari’atmadari’s editorials often spark off controversy and debate inside Iranian political circles.
Resalat (Mission) belongs to the moderate wing of the principlist camp. Resalat’s best known analyst is Amir Mohebbian, its political editor.
Shargh (East) is a moderate reformist newspaper. It was the most popular and influential reformist newspaper in its first period of publication which lasted from August 2003 until September 2006.
Tehran-e Emrooz (Tehran Today) is a ‘principlist reformist’ newspaper, connected to Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.