Cultural Deputy of the Ministry of Science Emphasizes Ban on Music Concerts in Universities

The Cultural Deputy of Iran's Minister of Science emphasized that holding 'mixed camps' is prohibited and that music concerts in universities are banned, stating that music can only be performed 'within' other programs. According to Tasnim News Agency, Zia Hashemi said on Sunday, August 31, at a meeting with the officials of the Student Basij across the country: 'If concerts are held separately, they are prohibited, but music that is part of other programs is acceptable.' He also noted that during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, music concerts were held in universities. Regarding the holding of concerts in universities, Minister of Science Mohammad Farhadi had announced less than two weeks ago on August 18 that 'concerts have not been held in universities in the past and they are not held now.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, opposed the holding of concerts in universities last year, stating that some have 'confused cultural work in universities with concerts and mixed camps.' The issue of holding music concerts in Iranian universities has previously made headlines. For instance, in 2014, Ali Yousofi, the Cultural Deputy of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, was arrested for holding a concert at the university and was released shortly after. Hashemi's remarks come at a time when the Minister of Culture's recent statements about 'abandoning' the holding of concerts in Mashhad have made news, and some Friday prayer leaders from other cities, including Shiraz and Sirjan, have called for a ban on concerts in these cities. 'We have no mechanism to prevent mixed camps from being banned,' Hashemi also stated on Sunday, adding that according to the guidelines for holding camps approved in 2009, mixed camps are prohibited. According to Hashemi, 40 reports about holding 'mixed camps' outside of universities have been submitted to the Ministry of Science by students themselves. He added: 'We have always reacted to these cases, but we have no mechanism to prevent them.' The Supreme Leader has previously spoken about the necessity of separating male and female students in Iran during meetings with government officials. In a video of his remarks to the cabinet of former President Mohammad Khatami that was published online, he expressed surprise, saying, 'Is this how universities become Islamic? A mixed camp. I was very surprised. A mixed student camp? Boys and girls in a mixed camp? Well, the very idea of a mixed camp is bad.' The current Minister of Science and other officials in this ministry have repeatedly announced that holding 'mixed camps' in universities is prohibited. In this context, the holding of 'independent' concerts in universities has been banned following Rouhani's directive regarding mixed student camps after Khamenei's criticism. Khamenei's representative stated: universities do not have the right to hold music concerts.