A senior official from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance stated that over 85% of the country's cultural budget is allocated to unaccountable institutions. The remarks by Ali Asghar Karandish, the Deputy for Management Development and Resources of this ministry, were reported on Thursday, July 31, by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), but the report was removed from the IRNA website hours after its publication. During a speech in the city of Zanjan, Mr. Karandish said, '61 trillion rials of the 71 trillion rial budget for culture and art this year has been allocated to institutions and organizations that are not accountable for their performance.' He mentioned that there are 26 cultural institutions benefiting from the cultural and artistic budget and complained that 'all expectations and demands in this regard are placed on the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.' The current budgeting method in the cultural sector has previously drawn criticism from conservatives, including former parliament member Mehdi Koochakzadeh, who stated that these budgets are allocated to specific individuals or institutions that are not subject to auditing and oversight. However, a report published by the newspaper Shargh in April this year indicated that most of these institutions are under the supervision or affiliated with organizations and individuals associated with conservatives, such as the Islamic Propagation Organization, the Office of Islamic Propagation of the Qom Seminary, the Cultural Foundation of Mahdi Muntazar, the International Ghadeer Foundation, the Ammar Film Festival, the Islamic Wisdom Foundation, and the Islamic Publishing affiliated with the Society of Teachers of Qom Seminary. In this context, the Deputy for Management Development and Resources of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance deemed the budget allocated to this ministry as insufficient, stating that the 10 trillion rial budget this year does not meet the needs of culture and art in the country. Previously, Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, also criticized the budget allocated to this ministry, deeming it disproportionate to the activities of this cultural authority.
Deputy Minister of Culture: Over 85% of Cultural Budget is in the Hands of Unaccountable Institutions
Ali Asghar Karandish, Deputy Minister of Culture, revealed that over 85% of Iran's cultural budget is controlled by unaccountable institutions, raising concerns about transparency and oversight. This situation has drawn criticism from various political factions, including conservatives, who argue that the current budgeting system favors specific groups. The insufficient budget allocated to the Ministry of Culture further complicates the challenges facing the cultural sector in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ali Asghar Karandish revealed that over 85% of Iran's cultural budget is allocated to unaccountable institutions, raising concerns about transparency. This has sparked criticism from various political factions, including conservatives, regarding the lack of oversight.
- 61 trillion rials of the 71 trillion rial cultural budget is allocated to unaccountable institutions.
- The Ministry of Culture's budget is deemed insufficient for its activities.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's cultural sector is heavily influenced by political factions, and budget allocation often reflects broader power dynamics within the country.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%