Kayhan
Encyclopedia
Kayhan is an influential newspaper
in Iran
. Directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader
, it is regarded to be "the most conservative Iranian newspaper."
Hossein Shariatmadari
is the editor-in-chief of Kayhan. His official position is representative of the Supreme Leader.
Today, it has a circulation of about 70,000, with about 1,000 employees worldwide. Kayhan also publishes special foreign editions, which include the English-language Kayhan International.
, contends that Kayhan articulates the political views of the "regime's fundamentalist camp." New York Times correspondent Michael Slackman writes that the newspaper "offers insight into the most extreme views of Iran’s leaders and into the mind-set and plans of those who are at the center of power." A former editor of Kayhan, Mahmoud Shamsolvaezin, a "reformist" and a staunch anti government activist, states, "The truth is, Kayhan is an intelligence newspaper". That is the standard rebuke offered by the reformist camp which is increasingly including various extremist and opposition groups like the People's Mujahedin of Iran and various monarchist and separatist groups like Pejak and Koumaleh and Jondollah.
Shariatmadari rejects the labels "conservative" and "fundamentalist", saying "They make us sound like the Taliban." Instead, he calls himself and those with similar views "principalists." Principalists is also the name of the majority faction of the Iranian Parliament.
as editor-in-chief. Later the roles of Faramarzi and Mesbahzadeh were reversed. Published in Iran as well as in London, the newspaper had a circulation greater than one-million prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
After the overthrow of the Shah all of Mesbahzadeh's assets were seized, including the publishing plant which was the main headquarters of Kayhan. Under the guidance of Mesbahzadeh, the London office of Kayhan continued its work and publishes a monarchist weekly issue known as Kayhan London http://www.kayhanpublishing.uk.com/ which has a small circulation. In 2006, Mesbahzadeh died at the age of 98 in Los Angeles, California
.
for her open letter
to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
, who is currently facing death by hanging for alleged murder; the newspaper called Bruni an "Italian prostitute" and "the singer and decadent actress who managed to break [up] the Sarkozy family" who "deserves to die" for her "perverted lifestyle", reiterating the striking similarities between Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and Carla Bruni, and also condemned actress Isabelle Adjani
as a prostitute. The French foreign ministry condemned the comments as "unacceptable" and summoned the Iranian ambassador to France; the Iranian foreign ministry sought to distance itself from Kayhan's comments, with spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stating that "The media can properly criticize the wrong and hostile policies of other countries by refraining from using insulting words. This is not correct."
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
, it is regarded to be "the most conservative Iranian newspaper."
Hossein Shariatmadari
Hossein Shariatmadari
Hossein Shariatmadari is the managing editor of Kayhan, a conservative Iranian newspaper.Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Shariatmadari was allegedly tortured by Iranian Shah's Police or SAVAK .Hossein Shariatmadari is the managing editor of Kayhan, a conservative Iranian newspaper.Before the...
is the editor-in-chief of Kayhan. His official position is representative of the Supreme Leader.
Today, it has a circulation of about 70,000, with about 1,000 employees worldwide. Kayhan also publishes special foreign editions, which include the English-language Kayhan International.
Political orientation
Kayhan openly supports the Iranian government and the policies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Shariatmadari stated that the newspaper and its staff "defend the ideology of the Islamic Revolution." Gareth Smyth, the former Iran correspondent of the Financial TimesFinancial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, contends that Kayhan articulates the political views of the "regime's fundamentalist camp." New York Times correspondent Michael Slackman writes that the newspaper "offers insight into the most extreme views of Iran’s leaders and into the mind-set and plans of those who are at the center of power." A former editor of Kayhan, Mahmoud Shamsolvaezin, a "reformist" and a staunch anti government activist, states, "The truth is, Kayhan is an intelligence newspaper". That is the standard rebuke offered by the reformist camp which is increasingly including various extremist and opposition groups like the People's Mujahedin of Iran and various monarchist and separatist groups like Pejak and Koumaleh and Jondollah.
Shariatmadari rejects the labels "conservative" and "fundamentalist", saying "They make us sound like the Taliban." Instead, he calls himself and those with similar views "principalists." Principalists is also the name of the majority faction of the Iranian Parliament.
History
Kayhan was founded in February 1943 by owner Abdul-Rahman Faramarzi and Dr. Mostafa MesbahzadehMostafa Mesbahzadeh
Dr. Mostafa Mesbahzadeh was an Iranian newspaper editor of Kayhan one of the most influential newspapers in Iran....
as editor-in-chief. Later the roles of Faramarzi and Mesbahzadeh were reversed. Published in Iran as well as in London, the newspaper had a circulation greater than one-million prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
After the overthrow of the Shah all of Mesbahzadeh's assets were seized, including the publishing plant which was the main headquarters of Kayhan. Under the guidance of Mesbahzadeh, the London office of Kayhan continued its work and publishes a monarchist weekly issue known as Kayhan London http://www.kayhanpublishing.uk.com/ which has a small circulation. In 2006, Mesbahzadeh died at the age of 98 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Controversies
The newspaper became controversial in 2010 for iterating an unequivocal condemnation of French First Lady Carla BruniCarla Bruni
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is an Italian-French songwriter, singer, actress, and former model...
for her open letter
Open letter
An open letter is a letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience, or a letter intended for an individual, but that is nonetheless widely distributed intentionally....
to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani , is an Iranian woman who has gained the attention of human rights groups and people throughout the world for a conviction of adultery and accompanying sentence of death by stoning. Since 2006, she has been imprisoned and under a death sentence in Tabriz, Iran after being...
, who is currently facing death by hanging for alleged murder; the newspaper called Bruni an "Italian prostitute" and "the singer and decadent actress who managed to break [up] the Sarkozy family" who "deserves to die" for her "perverted lifestyle", reiterating the striking similarities between Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and Carla Bruni, and also condemned actress Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
as a prostitute. The French foreign ministry condemned the comments as "unacceptable" and summoned the Iranian ambassador to France; the Iranian foreign ministry sought to distance itself from Kayhan's comments, with spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stating that "The media can properly criticize the wrong and hostile policies of other countries by refraining from using insulting words. This is not correct."