The Iranian Writers Association has criticized recent remarks by President Hassan Rouhani at the Tehran Book Fair, holding the presidency accountable for book censorship in Iran. In a statement published on their Facebook page on Friday, May 14, the Iranian Writers Association reminded Mr. Rouhani that 'perhaps the government can justify the arrests of social, cultural, and political activists by claiming they are carried out by other institutions and that the executive branch has no role in it,' but 'in the case of book censorship and issuing permits for publication, it does not even have this excuse, as the publication of books is under the direct supervision and orders of the executive branch and the President himself.' The association also emphasized that the government is responsible for other 'arrests' as well. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated on Tuesday, May 3, at the Tehran International Book Fair: 'Today, creative writers do not want money; they want freedom and security, and their freedom and security must be ensured.' However, the Iranian Writers Association noted that Mr. Rouhani's remarks are 'valuable as far as expressing this duty is concerned,' but added that 'the actual behavior and performance of the government once again showed that the reality is something other than Mr. Rouhani's words.' To support its argument, the association pointed to the prohibition of certain poets, writers, and translators from entering the book fair and the confiscation of several Persian and non-Persian books, adding that 'this alone is enough to express the truth that the government not only does not seek the security and freedom of writers but, on the contrary, is the executor of censorship policies against freedom-seeking authors.' The Iranian Writers Association emphasized that 'if Mr. Rouhani truly wants the security and freedom of writers, he must go beyond beautiful but unenforceable words and take real and practical steps towards freedom of thought and expression.' The Iranian Writers Association is a non-governmental cultural organization that has been active since 1968. Some members of this association, such as Mohammad Jafar Pouyandeh and Ali Akbar Saidi Sirjani, were murdered during the chain murders in the 1990s. The activities of the Iranian Writers Association have always faced obstacles and restrictions from the security institutions of the Islamic Republic.
Iranian Writers Association: The President is Responsible for Book Censorship
The Iranian Writers Association has condemned President Hassan Rouhani for his comments on freedom and security for writers, asserting that he is responsible for ongoing book censorship in Iran. They argue that the government's actions contradict his statements, highlighting the censorship and restrictions faced by writers. This matter is significant as it underscores the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Writers Association criticized President Rouhani for his comments on writer freedom at the Tehran Book Fair, asserting that he is responsible for ongoing censorship. They highlighted contradictions between his statements and the government's actions against writers.
- The Iranian Writers Association claims the government directly controls book censorship.
- Several writers were prohibited from attending the Tehran Book Fair, illustrating ongoing censorship.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a long history of censorship and repression of writers, which has been a contentious issue in its political landscape.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%