Minister of Culture: The Judiciary Bans Writers, Not Us

Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran, has rejected the role of this ministry in banning journalists and writers, attributing such actions to the judiciary. According to Fars News Agency, Mr. Jannati explained on Saturday, August 8, that 'we do not have banned journalists and writers; they have been banned by the judiciary.' The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance also stated that 'if a request is made to us regarding any of these individuals separately, we will try to resolve their issues.' Jannati further elaborated that 'in the field of books, we do not have any banned writers, and all those who write have obtained permits based on content.' In the years following the Islamic Revolution, many writers, journalists, and artists were forced to leave Iran. Many of them have never been able to return to their country or present their works officially and legally in Iran. Among them, several journalists have also been banned by the judiciary. Hamid Zeidabadi and Zhila Baniyaghoub are among these journalists who currently cannot operate in the media. Officials of Hassan Rouhani's government, however, claim that they have been able to resolve the ban issues for many since coming to power. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated in 2013: 'Many writers were banned during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's term, and we turned them into unrestricted writers. They can go and write whatever they want.' These statements come at a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran is still considered one of the oppressors of the press, journalists, and writers in the world according to international organizations.