"Two months after an overnight mass suspension of 17 periodicals and at a time the new reformist Parliament (Majlis) is taking the initiative to make amendments to the Press Law, another pro-reform daily is suspended on an illegal order," the IRMO statement that appeared on the front page of the daily Hamshahri, said.

Bayan, run by clergyman Ali Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, former Interior Minister was ordered closed on Sunday by the Special Court for the Clergy on charges of breaking the laws of Islam and the press.

The complaint in this case was lodged by the Friday prayers leader of eastern Hamedan.

It brought the number of suspended dailies to 19.

Earlier some 18 dailies were suspended on charges of "disparaging Islam and religious elements of the Islamic revolution".

The IRMO statement was submitted to the Judiciary Chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi urging him to "halt the incorrect attitude adopted against the press."

It noted that the daily Bayan is being suspended following the complaints lodged by professional plaintiffs and without observing the legal procedures and that this would put the Judiciary Chief's perspective of judicial development under question.

The new 290-Majlis, dominated by the reformists has pledged drastic changes in different areas, including press.

Daily comments on closure of Bayan paper

The editorial was referring to the recent closure of the Persian daily `Bayan' by the Special Court of Clergies, a move which exactly coincides with the offing of the candidates campaign for the run-off elections in Tehran constituency.

In fact, when reports were published regarding the banning of the daily, ``many people, as well as politically informed individuals wondered if the banning of 18 different publications just before the country's second round of general elections made any perceptible difference in the fate of those elections,'' noted the paper.

No one indeed is really sure if anything was ever accomplished by closing down those papers, stated the article.

Not only this, even if there has been any sort of achievement, who has been the beneficiary, it asked.

However, no one has till date been able to give a convincing answer to these aforementioned questions raised in the public opinion, wrote the daily.

``It is absolutely certain now that one of the definite repercussions in the aftermath of Bayan daily's having been closed down is the projection of Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, the managing director of the paper,'' remarked the daily.

It must be noted that Mohtashamipour is one of the four run-off candidates who should vie with three others in the upcoming election to be held next Friday, so that two of them may bag the relative majority of the votes for Tehran constituency and get into the Sixth Majlis.

However, what is really interesting is the fact that some right-wingers were dumb founded when they heard the news of the banning of the daily Bayan, noted the daily.

``They kept asking each other the question whether their next of kin were campaigning in favor of Hojjatoleslam Mohtashamipour!'' wrote the paper in conclusion.