Iran closes newspaper over cartoon furor

Iran closed one of the country's top newspapers and detained its editor and cartoonist after an insulting cartoon caused a riot among ethnic Azeris.

The government closed the state-owned newspaper "due to its publication of divisive and provocative materials."


Marchers in Azeri-dominated Tabriz protest an insulting cartoon that appeared in a leading Iranian newspaper. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters after a riot broke out. AP photo from Yahoo News.

Riots broke out Monday in Tabriz after the cartoon appeared showing a cockroach speaking in the Azeri language.

Azeris make up about a quarter of Iran's population and some Azeri leaders said the government's actions against the newspaper came too late.



Get news, chat, jokes, lyrics, food recipes and more at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!

Travel Asia Pacific