Ayatollah Yazdi's Harsh Attack on the Ministry of Culture; 'Music is Forbidden in Islam'

The head of the Assembly of Experts Secretariat has criticized the performance of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance regarding music, demanding that Ali Jannati warn the music department that music is forbidden in Islam. According to the Nasim news agency, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, in remarks at the Assembly of Experts' Constitutional Commission, advised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to 'be careful in his statements and positions' so that, according to him, 'the trust of the people is not undermined by specific positions and the expression of certain issues.' He called for the Iranian president to move in the direction of what he called the 'instructions' of the leader and the 'ideals' of Ayatollah Khomeini, and while criticizing some of Rouhani's positions, he stated: 'Rest assured that by adopting such a course, you will lose a significant portion of society, and God forbid, your popularity will gradually be damaged.' Ayatollah Yazdi, who is also the secretary of the Society of Teachers of Qom Seminary, directed most of his criticism at the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, saying: 'Mr. Minister! Warn your music department that music is forbidden in Islam. You cannot distinguish questionable matters. Relying on questionable matters will gradually lead you to trample over boundaries and fall into the category of what is forbidden.' His criticism comes after two clerics residing in Qom, Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani and Nasser Makarem Shirazi, protested on February 4 against the Ministry's issuance of a permit for an album that they claimed featured a woman singing. Their criticism was directed at the album 'I Love You, Ancient Land,' released by the Cheshmeh Publishing House, which was launched last week with the simultaneous singing of Mohsen Karamati and Noushin Tafi. These two clerics stated that they would prevent women from singing in Iran. While the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance claims it has not issued a permit for solo female singing, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi stated: 'Solo singing by women is undoubtedly forbidden. All clerics oppose it, and even choral singing that includes solo female singing is also forbidden. The promotion of music is fundamentally forbidden.' He threatened the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, saying: 'If there is negligence, weakness, or opposition to religious certainties and Sharia rulings, our people will not remain silent, and first and foremost, religious and high-ranking officials, especially the esteemed clerics, will not remain silent.' In response to the criticism regarding 'female solo singing,' Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated on February 5 that 'some are providing incorrect information to the clerics, scholars, Friday prayer leaders, and members of parliament.' He added: 'I feel that there are groups that do not accept this government, which is their elected government, and have organized and calculatedly formed centers for propaganda against this ministry.' The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, who is the son of Ahmad Jannati, a hardline cleric and Secretary of the Guardian Council, has been accused by Ayatollah Yazdi of obtaining his ministerial position through his father's influence. Ayatollah Yazdi warned: 'Mr. Minister! Know that with these actions, you will lose your popularity among the devout and esteemed clerics. Be careful not to waste your father's influence. If you have reached the ministry through your father's influence, be careful to fulfill your duties, and if you do not fulfill your duties, do not expect support but rather expect opposition, and know that with the path you have taken, tomorrow, if the clerics say something against you, you will not be able to live a proper life in the future.' Ali Jannati had previously faced questions from Hamid Rasayi, a principlist member of parliament, in January, but his responses did not convince the representatives, resulting in a yellow card from the parliament. One of the questions and criticisms that brought the Minister of Culture to parliament was his remarks about solo and group singing by women in front of men, which Mr. Rasayi labeled as 'licentiousness' and 'corrupting.'