Advisor to the Head of IRIB: The Display of Women with Veils on Television Was a Mistake

The advisor to the head of Iran's state radio and television criticized the presence of women with veils in one of the programs of this media, emphasizing that this issue was 'a mistake' and not part of the policies of the IRIB. Parvin Salihi stated in an interview with ILNA on Friday, January 12, that 'the program faced many criticisms, and I also expressed my opposition at that time, and perhaps the person responsible for this was reprimanded.' According to her, just as the IRIB 'does not show images of improperly veiled women due to certain regulations, it also maintains moderation, and in all these years, only this one case has occurred.' The program 'Long Live Life,' which airs on the second channel of Iran's state television, dedicated one of its episodes in early October to the family of a 43-year-old cleric named Mohammad Sadeqi, whose wife and daughter also appeared in the program wearing veils. This issue drew significant criticism on social media, especially since the aim of the program was stated as 'promoting an Iranian Islamic lifestyle.' An ILNA reporter also asked the advisor to the head of IRIB regarding women's and family affairs whether this program indicates a departure of Iran's state television from societal norms, to which she responded that airing such a program was a 'mistake.' Ms. Salihi said, 'Unfortunately, some consciously or unconsciously make mistakes. This was an exceptional case, and promoting such issues is not part of the IRIB's policies.' The presidency of the IRIB has recently been assigned to Mohammad Sarafraz by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. Before him, Ezzatollah Zarghami held this position for ten years.