Iranian Artists Pressured To Stop Supporting Reformists

On the eve of Iran's parliamentary elections, set for March 14, the reformist online daily Rooz reported on increasing pressure by supporters of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, among them Ahmad Tavakkoli, to make sure critics of the president are not part of the next parliament.

The editor of the daily Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called to refrain from voting for "circles in which unanimity with America and her allies prevails."

A day after 200 Iranian artists announced their support for the reformist list for parliament, some of them reported that they were being pressured by government circles to withdraw that support.

Sources: Rooz, Kayhan, Iran, March 12, 2008

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