Indictment Issued for Shargh and Shahrvand Newspapers Over 'Sex Tourism' Report

On Wednesday, the Tehran prosecutor announced the issuance of an indictment against the responsible managers of the Shargh and Shahrvand newspapers for publishing reports regarding the 'provision of sexual services' to Iraqi pilgrims in Mashhad and the Arvand region. The news website Khabar Online and subsequently the newspapers Shahrvand and Shargh reported during the summer about the provision of 'sexual services' to Iraqi pilgrims in Mashhad and the Arvand region, which were denied by several officials. However, the significant decline in the value of the rial and the influx of Iraqi citizens into some border markets in Iran, leaving them devoid of essential goods for the local population, once again drew criticism towards the behavior of Iraqis in Iran. According to Mizan Online, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi referred to these two newspapers as 'divisive' media during a meeting with Tehran's deputy prosecutors and district attorneys. He stated that after the publication of these reports, 'the prosecutor summoned several websites and newspapers and issued warnings, and yesterday the responsible managers of the two newspapers Shargh and Shahrvand, who had initially reported the news, were summoned and charged, and their indictment was issued.' This judicial official did not provide further details on this matter and did not specifically refer to the content of the indictment against these two newspapers. Mr. Dolatabadi also urged all media to pay attention to the 'policies and interests of the country, as well as the resolutions and notifications of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance' when publishing news, adding that if media outlets do not respect 'red lines,' they will be 'prosecuted.' Previously, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, had stated that this institution had put the Shargh newspaper, the Tabnak news website, and several other newspapers under judicial scrutiny for 'creating discord' between Iran and Iraq. Following the reports about a group of Iraqi pilgrims traveling to Mashhad for the purpose of receiving sexual services, the head of Iran's judiciary threatened that the prosecutor would file charges against media outlets that 'highlight' this issue. It was claimed that the U.S. 'seeks to create division between the people of Iran and Iraq,' and the Tehran prosecutor should deal with 'media outlets that highlight this issue and generalize it to the Iraqi pilgrims of Imam Reza.' Subsequently, the Iranian Ministry of Interior denied reports about a group of Iraqi pilgrims traveling to Mashhad and Khuzestan for the purpose of receiving sexual services and 'exploiting Iranian women,' calling for 'decisive judicial action' against the publishers of these reports. Some social media users, pointing to restrictions such as hijab in Iran, have stated that cities like Mashhad have become centers of 'sex tourism' and 'Islamic Pattaya.' Meanwhile, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Fars province announced the issuance of an indictment against the 'perpetrators' of installing banners of Israeli soldiers in this province on charges of 'propaganda against the regime.' In early October, the urban advertising unit of the Shiraz municipality installed a banner in Namazi Square of this city to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war, which featured images of Israeli soldiers instead of Iranian soldiers. After a photo of this banner circulated on social media and the ensuing uproar, the mayor of Shiraz issued a letter to the head of the cultural, social, and sports organization of the municipality to investigate the matter. Haidar Eskandarpour wrote to Ebrahim Gashtasbi Rad that the 'error' that occurred in this matter is 'unforgivable' and that 'the officials of the cultural organization, security, and executive must identify those responsible for this mistake and take serious action against the perpetrators.' Ali Salehi, the revolutionary prosecutor of Fars, also stated that 'after the publication of this matter on social media and the insult that occurred, a case was filed in the Shiraz prosecutor's office, and investigations began in this regard.' He reported the arrest of two more individuals involved in designing this banner and stated that this case is being processed in the Shiraz public and revolutionary prosecutor's office under the direct supervision of the prosecutor in a special investigation branch. The Shiraz prosecutor also mentioned the arrest of four individuals related to the installation of this banner at the request of the investigator of this case and their interrogation. Urban billboards in Iran, especially in Tehran, have sometimes sparked controversy. For instance, in 2013, banners were installed at most intersections and streets in Tehran, which were assessed as aimed at 'undermining' negotiations between Iran and the U.S. These banners, named 'American Honesty,' conveyed the message that negotiating with the U.S. is futile because Americans are 'lacking in honesty.'