Iran: President's press adviser sentenced

Ali Akbar Javanfekr has also been banned from journalism activities for three years. Javanfekr is just the latest of dozens of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads political backers to be targeted by hard-line opponents. This appears to be part of an internal power struggle over influencing upcoming elections for parliament, slated for March, and for president in 2013.Javanfekr wrote in an official publication that the practice of women wearing a head-to-toe black covering known as a chador was not originally an Iranian practice but was imported. This was considered offensive by hard-line Iranian clerics.The court sentenced him to six months for publication of materials and pictures contrary to Islamic norms and another six months for writings against Islamic norms.Javanfekr has 20 days to appeal the sentence. His lawyer, Abdollah Nakhaei, said the verdict is unfair and that he will definitely appeal it.The verdict came hours after authorities banned the pro-reform Etemaad daily for two months for publishing the text of an interview Saturday with Javanfekr, in which he criticized conservative opponents of Ahmadinejad for the arrest of dozens of the presidents allies over the past months.