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In a press conference Saturday evening, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ali Janati, commented on Iran’s new media law, the reported complaint against Vatan-e-Emrooz, and BBC’s recent work permit in Iran.
New media law
At the conference, Janati said that under Iran’s new media law, which will soon be presented in Iran's parliament, journalists will not face imprisonment.
He explained: “Imprisonment has been removed from the new law for journalists. Previously, if journalists did not follow the media law they would face a prison sentence, but under the new law they will receive a fine.”
Complaint against Vatan-e Emrooz
A journalist also asked Janati about the recent reports that the Culture Ministry has issued a complaint against the newspaper Vatan-e-Emrooz for publishing confidential government documents.
To this Janati responded that the Ministry hasn’t submitted any complaint, and that “the government’s policy doesn’t support filing complaints against media.”
BBC’s work permit in Iran
Janati also commented on the recent news that some BBC journalists have been allowed to report in Iran for a week:
“This is not the first time, BBC World journalists come to Iran", he said. "We cooperate with all international media, but BBC Persian is not welcome in the country. Iranian authorities are banned from speaking with BBC Persian,” he said.
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