Iran bans paper over story on Charlie Hebdo

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 17 January 2015

Iran's judicial authorities have closed Mardom-e-Emrooz for its coverage of the Charlie Hebdo controversy. The front-page headline quoted George Clooney and sparked backlash.

Summary

TEHRAN: Iran's judicial authorities have banned a newspaper for publishing a front-page headline allegedly indicating support for French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

Mohammad Ghoochani, chief editor of the daily Mardom-e-Emrooz, or Today's People, is quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency as saying his paper has been ordered closed for publishing a front-page story on the French magazine controversy. The article's headline on Tuesday quoted filmmaker and activist George Clooney as saying "I am Charlie Hebdo."

Iran has condemned both the magazine's publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the deadly assault on the magazine's Paris office by Islamic extremists who killed 12 people.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, unknown vandals scrawled graffiti on the walls of the French Cultural Center in Gaza City, capital of the Gaza Strip. - AP

Photo: AFP

Key Points

Iran bans a newspaper over Charlie Hebdo support
Mardom-e-Emrooz's editor quoted George Clooney
The article drew condemnation for alleged support
Iran has previously condemned Charlie Hebdo's cartoons
Vandals targeted the French Cultural Center in Gaza City

Relevant Topics

Iran

Newspaper

Censorship

Charlie Hebdo

George Clooney

Controversy

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