Naked Censorship

Many Iranian publishers and writers believe that there are signs that Hussein Saffar Harandi, the new hardline Minister of Culture has launched a new wave of censorship on books while new restrictions and pressures are on the rise in cultural activities. Specifically, a good number of books have recently been denied reprint permits. By the order of the newly appointed ultraconservative minister, in addition to denying reprint permits, a number of new books have also been denied permits for publications. While some for and level of censorship had existed in Iran during the last two decades, the current bans or non-issuance of permits is rather unprecedented in scope and content. The body responsible for determining what is to be printed or reprinted is the "Book Supervising Council" at the Ministry of Culture. Observers have interpreted this unprecedented decision to be an official censorship war on books.

link Despite the historic censorship, there have also been short periods when books were completely free from any government censorship and control. With the Islamic Revolution of ۱۹۷۹, Iran's book and publishing industry has witnessed its dark ages of censorship, even though there were similar periods in the past as well. Contrary to the current situation, Khatami's Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani cut on the level and scope of censorship that had long existed in Iran. But that honeymoon did not last long. Soon after Mohajerani's resignation, censorship on books increased and the judiciary imposed its controls on anything that was published. Furthermore, many writers and publishers were summoned and some were even sent to prison. Recent reports indicated that books by such prominent authors as Sadegh Hedayat are now banned from being published in Iran by virtue of denial of reprint permits. A Tehrani publisher expressed concern about even more steps to censor and control the publishing industry in the near future since the government is now more homogeneous and streamlined in its ideology and leadership. He says when previous officials from the Ministry of Culture were worried about the public's reactions to something, they openly talked about imposing censorship on books. In the recent cases, public opinion does not seem to play a role and the censorship measures are merely ideological in nature. Observers have warned that if the current wave of book censorship does not lead to any protests from the public, NGOs and activists, then one should expect longer list of banned books from the government.

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