Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Iran state TV cracks open door to opposition  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Iran state TV cracks open door to opposition
 
 
  
 
 AFP - Monday, January 18
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Supporters of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi march through Valiasr Street during riots in Tehran in June 2009. Seven months after a presidential poll that plunged Iran into a cycle of street protests and arrests, state television is opening the door a crack and giving the opposition precious air time before a nationwide audience.
 
 
 
 
 
 
TEHRAN (AFP) - – Seven months after a presidential poll that plunged Iran into a cycle of street protests and arrests, state television is opening the door a crack and giving the opposition precious air time before a nationwide audience.
 
Iranians last week witnessed former and incumbent lawmakers speak out against a violent crackdown on demonstrators opposed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
 
They went head-to-head on TV against a leading supporter of the hardline president, who was re-elected in the June 12 election which opponents charge was massively rigged.
 
Outspoken reformist MP Mostafa Kavakebian took on prominent hardliner and newspaper editor Hossein Shariatmadari in a heated prime-time debate, possibly watched by millions across Iran.
 
Shariatmadari's hardline Kayhan daily has often accused the opposition, including former presidents, of "conspiring" against the Islamic regime and playing into the hands of the United States, the hardliners' major foe.
 
"If we accuse all former presidents of having ties with the United States or leading a sedition, nobody will remain" to support Iran's Islamic establishment, Kavakebian said.
 
Mir Hossein Mousavi, a former prime minister and Ahmadinejad's main election opponent, former presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami, and ex-parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi have been the main targets of Shariatmadari's newspaper.
 
Mousavi and Karroubi ran against Ahmadinejad and charged the poll was massively rigged to keep the hardliner in power.
 
They have rejected his government as illegitimate and backed street protests, in which dozens have been killed in government crackdowns.
 
In another debate aired last Thursday, former MP Javad Ettaat condemned a December 27 crackdown on opposition protesters during Ashura, when Iran plunges into a frenzy of grief to mark the historical martyrdom of one of Shiite Islam's most prominent saints.
 
Eight people were killed.
 
"If it is wrong to whistle and clap hands on Ashura, beating people is worse and killing them a much bigger wrong," Ettaat said.
 
This is the first time since the election that such criticism has been aired on state television, which until now had written off opposition protesters as "foreign agents."
 
The television has promised to continue the debates, which have been welcomed by many in Iran.
 
"It was interesting to watch these debates, and I am looking forward to more, which I will be sure to watch," said Manijeh, an office worker in her 40s who did not want to give her full name.
 
The opposition has long criticised the state broadcaster over what it deems to be biased coverage that favours Ahmadinejad and hardliners, especially after the election.
 
Private television and radio stations are banned in Iran.
 
Several opposition figures, including Rafsanjani and Mousavi, had called for such debates, saying they could defuse growing tensions within the nation.
 
"Such debates will calm the opposition and sideline anti-Islamic elements who seek to exploit the situation," said Ali Motahari, a prominent conservative MP and fierce Ahmadinejad critic.
 
"If we want to resolve certain problems in society we need to have such debates," he added.
 
"An important aspect of these televised debates is that they will end the business of (Iranians watching) Persian-language satellite channels such as the BBC and the Voice of America," lawmaker Kavakebian told the Mehr news agency.
 
Iranian authorities accuse the BBC and VOA, which have a large audience inside Iran, of inciting post-election protests, and have banned Iranians from speaking to the broadcasters.
 
"Opposition candidates (Mousavi and Karroubi) can be invited on TV to say what they have to say, and this will pave the way to national reconciliation," Motahari said.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Pope gunman released from prison AP -  44 minutes ago
 
Rights group urges Israel to end Gaza blockade AP -  50 minutes ago
 
Cleveland Orchestra musicians strike over contract AP -  57 minutes ago
 
Suicide bombers, gunmen attack central Kabul Reuters -  59 minutes ago
 
Taliban launches attacks on central Kabul AFP - 1 hour 15 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Toyota to double global hybrid output: report
Why coastal oil spills can pollute for decades: study
Saab drivers hit the road to support car brand
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger
Obama's 1st yr marked by diplomacy, but few results
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
Obama surprises Michelle with birthday dinner
 
Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper files for divorce
 
Obama's 1st yr marked by diplomacy, but few results
 
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger
 
Johnson & Johnson accused of drug kickbacks
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Beat the blues by going to bed early: study
 
Huge tomb found at Egypt's Saqqara pyramid
 
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
 
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Monday, 18 January 2010 Ex-housekeeper alleges abuse by Israeli PM's wife  
US-TECH Summary  
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger  
Afghan president to offer Taliban new peace plan  
Fearful Haiti quake survivors turn to God for help
|  
Karzai to offer Taliban new peace plan  
Venezuela's Chavez nationalizes French-owned retailer
|  
Saddam official Tareq Aziz hospitalized  
Billionaire seen winning tight Chile vote
|  
Northern Irish leaders shake hands for first time
|  
Angola arrests a third rights activist in Cabinda
|  
Quake-hit Haiti's cabinet meets -- in the open-air
|  
Turner's bid for park bison stokes wildlife debate  
Afghan lawmakers adjourn despite Cabinet standoff  
Taliban kidnap two Chinese engineers, four Afghans  
Obama to parishioners: Keep faith in hard times  
Wall St sets bar higher for IBM in 2010 after rally
|  
US supports Afghan plan to reintegrate Taliban  
MySQL founder turns to China, Russia to halt Oracle
|  
Drug abuse in US prisons is tough to stamp out  
182 more ex-child soldiers leave camps in Nepal  
4,000 homeless, 1 girl killed in Manila slum fire  
No progress in RI immigrant prison release program  
Haiti's history created bond with many US blacks  
Pakistani officials: Suspected US drone kills 20  
Plug being pulled on decades-old navigation system  
Police: Minor sidewalk squabble leads to stabbing  
Bush, Clinton: Haiti response not about politics  
Filipino WWII veterans still waiting for payments  
NASA listens for silent Mars lander  
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality  
Hollywood gets ready for Golden Globes  
Avatar hits $1.6 billion worldwide
|  
O'Brien, NBC separation may upstage Golden Globes
|  
Filmmaker: Movie about balloon dad could clear him  
"Avatar" hits $1.6 billion worldwide  
O'Brien, NBC separation may upstage Golden Globes  
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality  
Taliban launches attacks on central Kabul  
Ukraine vote heads for tense run-off  
U.S. troops to help Haiti's security; aid flows in
|  
Sony's PlayStation is 'poison' to children: Chavez  
Marines exit Iraq in first wave of US forces out  
Why coastal oil spills can pollute for decades: study  
Yanukovich, Tymoshenko qualify for Ukraine run-off: polls  
MySQL founder turns to China, Russia to halt Oracle  
Saab drivers hit the road to support car brand  
Suicide bombers, gunmen attack central Kabul
|  
Iran state TV cracks open door to opposition  
Netanyahu, Merkel to meet on Iran, Palestinian issues
|  
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' sentenced to death  
Chinese kidnapped as Karzai mulls Taliban strategy  
Chavez says U.S. occupying Haiti in name of aid
|  
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" gets 4th death sentence  
Al Qaeda: Yemen claims of killing fighters untrue
|  
Iran ex-prosecutor denies role in torture deaths  
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' to hang for 1988 gas attack  
Kenyan police raid Somali suburb after riots
|  
Haiti's voodoo priests object to mass burials
|  
Chile shifts right as billionaire wins presidency
|  
Fearful Haiti quake survivors turn to God for help
|  
Ukraine PM Tymoshenko to face old rival in runoff
|  
Sony's PlayStation is 'poison' to children: Chavez  
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year
|  
Can newspaper muckraking carry on in nonprofits?  
5 Americans detained in Pakistan allege torture  
CAPITAL CULTURE: Obama cites value of volunteerism  
China to expand smoking bans in 7 major cities  
US Shiites tentatively try to Americanize  
Gunbattle reported in Afghan capital  
Tips for getting involved in national service  
Attorney: Man in JFK breach just used 'wrong door'  
Myanmar court hears Suu Kyi appeal of house arrest  
5 people found slain in southeast Texas home  
Support for Japan PM drops amid cash probe: polls  
Shanghai targeted in China phone porn crackdown  
More cold to compound misery in China's Xinjiang  
Search halted for potential CA boat crash victims  
Extreme cold, snow kills 4 in northwest China  
4 Miss. college students killed in Ala. motel fire  
Police arrest man accused of "time zone" cheating  
Earthquake in China kills 7 people  
15 sickened on flight from US Virgin Islands to NC  
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality  
Seoul shares rise 0.6 pct; LG Elec, KEPCO advance  
IMF chief: global recovery stronger than expected  
S.Korea finmin warns against hasty policy exit  
China Eastern surges on 2009 profit expectations  
PAKISTAN  
Avatar, Hangover take home top Golden Globes
|  
Glee sings top TV show tune at Golden Globes
|  
Ricky Gervais falls flat at Golden Globes
|  
RPT-UPDATE 1-Korea Life Insurance IPO planned for Q1- Hanwha  
Golden Globe fashion fights gloom of Haiti, rain
|  
Oil price drop, Wall Street hit Asian shares  
U.S. Juggles Aid And Military Logistics, Relief Suppliers Complain  
Simon Cowell recruiting X Factor judges
|  
Taiwan dlr up, market watches govt fund selling, QDII  
Obama Attends Church Founded in 1866 By Seven Freed Slaves  
Tsunami-generating quake possible off Indonesia: scientists  
Seoul shares down on banks; KEPCO, Doosan Heavy rally  
Chaotic Conditions In Haiti Still Hamper Distribution Of Disaster Relief Supplies  
Peace Activist Cindy Sheehan Concludes Protest In Front Of Cheney's House  
S.Korea firms urge govt caution over exit strategy  
'Mad Men' wins third drama award in a row  
Ricky Gervais falls flat at Golden Globes  
Suspected U.S. Missile Attack Kills 12 In Pakistan  
Haitian-American Man Behind JFK Security Breach, Police Say  
Hillary Clinton Arrives In Haiti, Meets With President Preval And Reassures People  
Classy, glitzy, 'Golden Globes' failed as a party  
Obama Announces Clinton And Bush Teaming Up To Help Haiti  
Cameron's `Avatar' wins best drama honor at Globes  
Breaking: JFK Terminal Security Fiasco, Passengers Re-screening Going On  
"Glee" sings top TV show tune at Golden Globes  
'Avatar' wins top honors at Golden Globes  
Avatar scores best film and director at Golden Globes  
Leno gets support from staff; O'Brien ratings soar  
Actor Todd Lasance to plea to cocaine charge  
Militants launch multiple attacks across Kabul  
Toyota to double global hybrid output: report  
Stars Announced To Perform At Hope For Haiti Event  
Turk who shot Pope John Paul released from prison
|  
Israeli police arrest 5 in West Bank mosque blaze  
Iran says sees signs of progress in nuclear talks
|  
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year  
Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock Share Best Actress Win At The Critics Choice Awards  
Rights groups urge Hamas to allow war crimes probe  
UK court scraps curfews on two terrorism suspects
|  
Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, "Avatar" Win Golden Globes  
Qaeda says fighters alive, Yemen vows more strikes
|  
Iran tries five people over December unrest
|  
Somali pirates free oil tanker after record ransom
|  
Saudis say Sept blast killed 3 wanted militants
|  
CORRECTED: Gunmen kill five in Iraqi NGO office
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year  
Google probing possible inside help on attack
|  
Handset market recovery in focus after weak 2009
|  
Turkey blocking 3,700 websites: OSCE
|  
ASML Q4 order book seen to signal tech rebound
|  
Rapes of elderly women terrify central Texas towns  
UK High Court rules for Nokia vs IPCom
|  
Obama to celebrate MLK's life and legacy  
Leno gets support from staff  
Shanghai Expo plans before, after Haiti exhibits  
Ex-Minn. senator ousted by Al Franken won't be gov  
Cleveland Orchestra musicians strike over contract  
China's 1,459-year-old Buddha gets $10.8M facelift  
Turkmens to take down golden monument of ex-leader  
5 Americans detained in Pakistan allege torture  
China to expand smoking bans in 7 major cities  
SKorea: Talks with North still on despite threats  
Vietnam aims to carve world's biggest jade Buddha  
Activist freed on bail after arrest in India  
Taiwan artist carves 'world's tiniest tiger'  
Taliban militants launch attack on Afghan capital  
Conan O'Brien finalizing exit from NBC
|  
Pakistani rupee weakens vs dollar; stocks end lower  
Google says 'business as usual' in China  
S.Korea's rate hike seen premature- OECD  
JAL shares hit all-time low of $0.05  
China's 2009 web earnings reach 11 billion dollars  
The Golden Globes: As It Happened  
Japan's recovery still fragile: finance minister  
Mazda, Ford deny plans to dismantle China venture  
King Cameron redux? `Avatar' aims for Oscar glory  
Obama musical thrills audiences in Germany  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Conan O'Brien finalizing exit from NBC  
Backstage and on the red carpet at Golden Globes  
Simon Cowell recruiting "X Factor" judges  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights