Asr-e Azadegan explained

Type:	Daily newspaper
Founder:	Hamidreza Jalaipour
Chiefeditor:	Mashallah Shamsolvaezin
Maneditor:	Ghafour Garshasbi
Foundation:	7 October 1999
Political:	Reformist
Language:	Persian
Ceased Publication:	April 2000
Headquarters:	Tehran

Asr-e Azadegan (fa|عصر آزادگان|italic=yes|lit=Times of the Free People) was a Persian-language daily newspaper in Iran published briefly between 1999 and 2000.

History and profile

Asr-e Azadegan was established on 7 October 1999.^[1] The founder and publisher of the daily was Hamid Reza Jalaipour who also launched Jameah, Toos and Neshat; all of which had been closed down before the launching of Asr-e Azadegan. However, the existence of Asr-e Azadegan lasted very brief and it was banned in April 2000 for publishing articles which "disparaged Islam and the religious elements of the Islamic revolution."^{[2] [3] [4]}

The paper was edited by Mashallah Shamsolvaezin.^[5] The manager editor was Ghafour Garshasbi who was acquitted of publishing articles that violated the Iranian press law in October 2000.^[6]

The newspaper's editors included:

• Akbar Ganji, who wrote about Iranian secret services.
• Ebrahim Nabavi, who wrote a daily political satire.
• Hossein Derakhshan, who wrote a regular technology column.
• Massoud Behnoud, who wrote a regular opinion column.

See also

• List of newspapers in Iran

Notes and References

1. Book: Behzad Yaghmaian. Social Change in Iran: An Eyewitness Account of Dissent, Defiance, and New Movements for Rights. 24 January 2002. SUNY Press. 978-0-7914-5212-7. 129.
2. Web site: Three reformist papers shut. Iran Press Service. 18 October 2013. 23 April 2000.
3. News: Iran Tightens Crackdown on Reformist Publications. 18 October 2013. The New York Times. 25 April 2000. Geneive Abdo. Tehran.
4. Book: Hossein Shahidi. Journalism in Iran: From Mission to Profession. 11 May 2007. Routledge. 978-1-134-09391-5. 145.
5. Web site: Iranian reformist editor jailed for Islam challenge. Reuters via Green Party of Iran. 18 October 2013. Tehran. 10 April 2000.
6. News: Press Jury finds Asr-e Azadegan editor guilty. 18 October 2013. Payvand. 28 October 2000. Islamic Republic News Agency. Tehran.