A Writer's Perspective on Masoud Pezeshkian's Cultural Promises: Even If He Wants To, He Can't; This House is Ruined from the Foundation

In the days leading up to the vote to determine the successor to Ebrahim Raisi in Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian deemed the interference of non-cultural institutions unacceptable in what he called a '24-article covenant.' He stated, 'Thought has no place in prison.' In response to questions from the House of Cinema, he promised that 'the Minister of Culture in my government will not reduce cultural matters to mere propaganda or unrealistic statistics, but will activate cultural diplomacy,' adding that his government will 'regain the trust of cultural and artistic figures.' Pezeshkian further noted, 'With the new government's policies based on building trust between cultural and artistic figures and the ruling authority, we can hope that the problems in the cultural and artistic fields will be somewhat resolved.' In this context, Pejman Soltani, a writer and publisher in Iran, expressed in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that 'Mr. Pezeshkian, even if he wants to, cannot,' stating, 'This house is ruined from the foundation.' Soltani also addressed questions regarding the state of censorship in Iran, its future, and the reactions of writers and artists to censorship and pressures in the literary field. As a writer and publisher, what experience do you have with censorship? - I will first try to provide a brief introduction to the formation of censorship that has led us into this predicament. Certainly, the foundation of this issue began with tradition, family, and rituals. However, I do not intend to weigh this unknown issue on the scales of justice, but the source of this decline and censorship has been sown right in this house and later disseminated to society. This discussion is certainly not general, and do not doubt that for many it will turn into a slander. Now, if we detach this connection (tradition and family) from ourselves, it will spill over somewhere else, and that place is none other than absolute rule... In my opinion, the writer is an observer of social currents. In the direction of justice and truth, if it is intended that under censorship, the essence of the work is taken away and the creative space is patched up, it will certainly become immobilized or depressed. Some time ago, I submitted my collection of stories titled 'I am the Father of Seventy-Four Children' to the Ministry of Culture for printing permission. After several months, the level of censorship was such that nothing remained of the work. I was forced to print it abroad. This is the body of our cultural and literary system. We have been so affected by deletion and censorship that we do not know what the intent and purpose is. In any case, it is a reality that we have never escaped the blade of censorship. In fact, we have placed our lives in the bowstring. Has censorship over books, which includes both the writer and the publisher, been the same over these decades or has it changed in its execution? Although speaking about what we know is much more difficult than speaking about what we do not know, especially if we dare to speak the truth. In Iran, the term 'privateness or privatization' of organizations and institutions has no meaning, and all are under the domination and scrutiny of the government, which eliminates a large part of the demands, whether in dialogue or in exercising opinions. One end of this concept (publication) in Iran is tied to publishing institutions that, due to interests, both economic and cultural, have been directed towards the government and its laws, which can be divided into three categories: 1- Independent and influential publishers, who generally are gradually exiting the scene in isolation, and their numbers are very few but they strive to fight, 2- Independent publishers who are generally neutral and continue their work with the existing possibilities and do not make efforts to fight against censorship and act passively, and 3- Publishers who generally operate in a cultural framework and are immersed in government rent, which this category appears more sacred in the eyes of the public and is not deprived of any government opportunity. Of course, the pressure of censorship for these publishers is somewhat milder... Over these forty-plus years, with changes in government, decisions have been made based on the preferences of the leaders and the team formed... For example, during the presidency (Ministry of Culture) of Mr. Mir-Salim, the publication of pictures of pigs and dogs in children's books was prohibited, and words such as 'overall, naked, exposed' and similar words were problematic. However, during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, a better environment for publications and press was opened, which has been subject to the preferences of the same specific group in power, and this trend of preference and even definition continues. How has censorship affected literature, and what approaches have writers and poets taken towards it? There is a distance between right and law as thin as a hair... Therefore, both the writer and the poet have testified with their expressions to an era they have struggled with. I believe neither the writer nor the poet has ever waited for idle conditions, but has also welcomed the existing conditions. The existence of cyberspace, the internet, and communication with the audience... has created an environment for the writer not to sit idle. Humanity has always needed a big mouth, as big as 'Oh, people.' Today, we witness a young, demanding, and questioning class. Certainly, the way of communication and the bridge between the writer and the poet is possible through this (social networks, underground publishing, gatherings for poetry and story reading). Certainly, we do not write our works with an expiration date. All committed writers have accepted a responsibility whose footprints will remain for centuries. And the next question is, can we hope for a change in the policies of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance under Masoud Pezeshkian and the new minister, Abbas Saleh Shariati, towards improvement? Mr. Pezeshkian, even if he wants to, cannot. This house is ruined from the foundation.