Ministry of Culture: Cooperation with Satellite Networks is Punishable

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance once again warned Iranian citizens against cooperating with foreign satellite networks, labeling these networks as "tools of cultural infiltration." On Friday, December 4, the Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, reported the statements of the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, emphasizing that according to the ministry's regulations, "any cooperation with foreign satellite networks is considered a violation and will be dealt with accordingly." Hussein Nooshabadi stated: "Article 10 of the Satellite Equipment Prohibition Law explicitly obliges authorities to confront individuals cooperating with satellite networks. Article 13 of this law also prohibits any advertisement sent to these networks." He mentioned that the Supreme Council's resolutions and government directives have outlined punishments for any cooperation with these networks, and for example, regarding advertisements, the punishment can extend to the revocation of advertising licenses. The discussion of "infiltration" or "cultural penetration" by the West into Iran has recently sparked a new wave of crackdowns on journalists and artists. This discussion arose following remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, who stated that the U.S. sought to infiltrate Iran through nuclear negotiations. These remarks have been echoed in speeches by Iranian military officials and Friday prayer leaders across the country, and recently led to the arrest of several journalists. Additionally, reports emerged in late October regarding the prohibition of activities for 24 pop singers in Iran, citing their cooperation with the Radio Javan website and foreign satellite networks as the reason for this prohibition. This report led to contradictory reactions from officials at the Ministry of Culture, with the ministry's artistic deputy denying the issue, while the head of the music office confirmed it. According to Hussein Nooshabadi, the Ministry of Culture, along with the Ministry of Communications, is monitoring all advertisements, news, and reports from satellite networks to confront any proven violations. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance also reported a decrease in satellite advertising statistics, stating: "One of the issues that has led to a reduction in advertisements is that follow-ups have been conducted, warnings issued, and seriousness in enforcement declared." He ultimately expressed hope that the trend of decreasing cooperation with satellite networks would continue, and that individuals who, according to him, "unintentionally engaged in interviews or sent news or advertisements," would be informed. According to statistics provided by the then-head of IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) in May of this year, 60% of people in Tehran and an average of 40% of people in the country watch satellite networks.