Iran Closes Newspaper Over Cartoon

In a wire story that's racing around the world this morning, one of the three top newspapers in Iran was closed earlier today, and the editor and staff cartoonist were detained. At question is a caricature that led to rioting in Tabriz from the northwestern Azeri-speaking minority known as Azari or Torks. The closure came from the Press Supervisory Body, not the judiciary that has closed down over 100 papers since 2000.

The cartoon in question showed a cockroach speaking Azeri. The editor and cartoonist are currently being held in Evin prison.

The detentions and closure came after the Iranian Culture minister popped up on TV Monday night and apologized for the cartoon, promising retribution.
 
posted 3:27 am PST | Permalink
 

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