Atash (newspaper)

Atash was first published on 18 April 1946 as a weekly newspaper.[1] The license holder and editor was Mehdi Mir Ashrafi who was elected to the Majlis during the premiership of Mohammad Mosaddegh[2][3] and was a close friend of General Hasan Arfa.[4] The paper was based in Tehran[1] and frequently featured political satire and cartoons.[5] Atash had a right-wing political stance and was the only outspoken publication at that period in Iran.[1] It was also one of the fierce critics of Iranian Prime Minister Ahmad Qavam and his cabinet.[5][6]

Due to its critical approach Atash was banned in May and July 1946.[1] In October it was restarted, and its frequency was switched to daily.[1] From that date it began to criticize the Russian policies adopted by the government which led to its suppression in December 1946 and in February 1947.[1] The paper ceased publication in June 1947 following its final ban by the Qavam government.[1] The official reason for the closure of Atash was the publication of the articles against the interests of the country.[5]