Khamenei makes a small concession

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN), JULY 9. Iran's supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has allowed one opening in the wall of clerical dominance by allowing space to parliament to probe one of the institutions under his control. This permission to probe the functioning of State-run radio and T.V. does not necessarily mean that Parliament will have greater say over programming. There are also no signs that Mr. Khamenei is ready to rein in the judiciary that has been the main obstacle to the reforms mooted by Parliament.

On Saturday, Mr. Khamenei authorised the Expediency Council to amend its by-laws that prohibit any interference in the institutions under his control. These institutions include the armed forces, the judiciary and the State-run radio and T.V. Parliament, which had unsuccessfully tried to slash funding for the radio and T.V. corporation, had sought a probe into its affairs. This move by Parliament was blocked by the conservative- dominated Guardians Council that has over-riding authority on legislation and other measures taken by Parliament. The Expediency Council, yet another conservative dominated body, is meant to arbitrate between Parliament and the Guardians.

Although Mr. Khamenei had signalled that he would allow a parliamentary probe into State broadcasting, the head of the Expediency Council, Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani had written to him saying that the by-laws did not permit such a probe. Mr. Rafsanjani had also queried whether the Expediency Council could amend the by-laws and whether the leader would give them permission to do the same. This authorisation has now been given. But that need not be the end of the story since the measure can still be bounced back and forth between the two Councils.

At present it does not appear that the probe will go into any aspects beyond the financial affairs of the radio and T.V. corporation. The reform-minded Parliament would like to get some control over the news and news features part of the programming since it is currently loaded in favour of their conservative opponents. But such control is likely to prove elusive. As for general liberalisation of programming, that can be forgotten for the foreseeable future. In this respect, the leader's authorisation represents a minor concession to the pro- reform mood in Iran that found expression yet again in the landslide electoral victory that the President, Mr. Mohammed Khatami won in June.

Meanwhile, the conservative dominated judiciary continues its merry ways. Another five Members of Parliament have been given summons to appear before a Teheran court within two days. At least one of these M.P.s has been charged for a speech he made in parliament wherein he criticised the judiciary. So much for parliamentary privilege. Two other M.P.s had been summoned by the court last week. Parliament's efforts to define ``political crimes'' and to provide for jury trials in such cases so as to curb the free-ranging judiciary was shot down by the Guardians soon after Mr. Khatami's electoral victory.

There are also signs that the pro-reform camp is in no hurry to confront the clerical establishment. Students who wanted to observe today the second anniversary of the riots that began on campus and spread to other parts of Teheran and then the provinces have not been given permission to hold a public rally. They instead intend to hold a rally inside the campus of the Teheran University.

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Section  : International
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