Ebrahim Raisi Issues Directive for 'Stabilization of Oversight' by IRIB over 'Home Entertainment'

Peyman Jabali, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), announced that Ebrahim Raisi has issued a directive for the 'stabilization of oversight' by IRIB over the 'home entertainment' network. The single article defining the powers and duties of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and IRIB in the field of audio-visual media was approved in the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council last June. Accordingly, the issuance of licenses, oversight, and review of advertising regulations in the field of audio-visual media has been entrusted to IRIB. The head of IRIB had previously defended the recent directive of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council regarding the transfer of oversight of the home entertainment network to this organization. On July 3, Jabali told ILNA news agency: 'According to the Constitution, IRIB is responsible for audio and visual content across all platforms, and the directive of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council regarding the home entertainment network is to stabilize this issue.' In recent months, following a fierce attack by government media, including the Kayhan newspaper, which is managed under the supervision of Ali Khamenei's representative, on the series of home networks and labeling the products of this network as 'debauched,' the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council issued a directive transferring oversight of home entertainment products to IRIB. Following the announcement of the transfer of oversight of the home entertainment network to IRIB by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, some artists expressed their protest through a joint story. They wrote in this story: 'The end of home entertainment. With the green light from the head of the government, home entertainment has also fallen into the hands of IRIB, and this means a tsunami of artists being banned from working and the end of people's entertainment.' Previously, the 'Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs' under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance was responsible for 'handling cinema affairs and home entertainment networks.' The House of Cinema of Iran also criticized the transfer of oversight of the home entertainment network to IRIB in a statement on July 2, calling this action 'disappointing' and 'against the advancement of the art economy in the cinema industry.' This professional association urged responsible institutions to 'set aside insistence on outdated and obsolete foundations' and 'act in accordance with contemporary necessities and accepted social norms.' The House of Cinema of Iran mentioned among the consequences of the new directive 'increased psychological pressure on artists' and 'more censorship of home entertainment and cinematic works,' considering it to exacerbate the cultural crisis. Previously, Majid Beheshti, a film producer, commented on the directive of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council to Voice of America, stating: 'The transfer of the home entertainment network to IRIB is a return to the 1980s.' The Minister of Culture labeled prominent artistic figures as 'the flag bearers of the struggle against the Islamic Republic' in protests.