Iran's hardline press watchdog allowed the reformist Etemad newspaper to return to the news-stands on Saturday after a 15-month ban on the leading daily. The paper's managing director and licence holder, reformist former MP Elias Hazrati, wrote in the comeback edition that the banning of his paper had been out of "stubbornness." He vowed to continue to "serve the regime and the national interest."
The press watchdog banned Etemad (Confidence) in March 2010 citing "repeated and persistent violations." Hazrati, who was a member of the reformist-dominated parliament of 2000-2004 said: "I pursued the case and a fair judge - a rarity in the judiciary - ordered that the paper be cleared for renewed publication." Saturday's edition carried a short message on its front page from reformist former president Mohammad Khatami.
In 2009, Etemad angered conservatives by publishing remarks by Khatami in which he said that Iran was facing a "crisis" following the controversial re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Reformist newspapers flourished during Khatami's 1997-2005 presidency, but the press watchdog has since closed most titles down. Dozens of journalists working for reformist publications have also been jailed following the government's crackdown on the mass street protests.
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