Iran's Supreme Court has ruled it is no longer a crime to possess videos or music cassettes that ``corrupt public ethics'' if they are for personal use.
``Possession of immodest pictures, video films, cassette tapes and the like is not considered an offense unless it is used to promote corruption and prostitution,'' Ahmad Darzi, a court official, said today. ``If it is for commercial or distribution purposes, then legal action will be taken.''
Punishments could include prison terms, flogging and fines. Previously, anyone found watching or in possession of films considered immoral, or caught listening to cassettes of music with immodest lyrics, was arrested. Iran's government considers scenes of couples kissing or embracing to be immoral.
The December ruling took effect Sunday, and was first reported Monday by the pro-reformist Asr-e-Azadegan daily.
Simin Behbehani, a prominent poet and writer, called the new interpretation of Islamic laws a ``positive and promising'' expansion of President Mohammad Khatami's reforms.
``Possessing video films and cassette tapes should not be considered an offense,'' she said. ``Personal freedoms should be respected.''
Asr-e-Azadegan quoted legal expert Abdolreza Sadrinejad as saying the ruling is part of the emergence of a civil society and a sign the new judiciary chief is developing the judicial system.
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi replaced Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a hard-line cleric, as head of judiciary last year. Still, the judiciary is considered to be controlled by conservatives. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appoints its chief.
Since his landslide 1997 election, Khatami has loosened clergy-imposed restrictions on the daily lives of Iranians and increased press freedoms.
Before his presidency, police often detained people for listening to female singers. Women mingling in public with men who were not closely related or failing to properly cover their hair without the mandatory head scarf also were detained.
Such detentions now are rare, though women still are not allowed to sing in public.
Khatami's reforms got a big boost last month, when his allies won the majority of seats in the Majlis, or Parliament, on a platform of strengthening social and political reforms.
Gene sez: "I wonder if this new ruling would make Mike Albo happy?"
