Vienna-Anti Iran-Confab
IRNA correspondent in Vienna was not allowed to take part in an anti-Iran conference opened on Saturday.
Simone Dinah Hartmann, an official in charge of the conference, while denying permission for IRNA reporter said that "the news agency belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, so, its correspondent is not allowed to attend."
In response to the IRNA reporter who said it was against free flow of information, Hartmann added that "she had no permission to attend the gathering even as an independent participant and without the title of reporter".
Meanwhile, several reporters applied for the conference withdrew from the event in protest at refusal to allow the IRNA correspondent in.
By sending e-mails to the secretariat, the Vienna University and union of reporters in Vienna, the reporters regretted creation of obstacles in the way of free flow of information by the conference's officials.
Since the issue of human rights is one of the main topics to be discussed in the event, the reporters said free dissemination of news and information is one of the primary rights of human beings.
They added that it was a shame that such a conference which is to focus on human rights and freedom, prevented reporters from giving coverage to the event.
They also said that preventing IRNA correspondent from attending the confab because of her nationality was "surprising".
Announcing their withdrawal from the conference, the reporters reiterated that the act was against freedom of press.
