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Ministry of Culture Pursues Removal of 'For Sunni' Phrase from Non-Dogmatic Books

Jan 30, 2026 January 30, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The Iranian Ministry of Culture is addressing the request from Kurdish publishers to remove the phrase 'For Sunni' from their books, replacing it with 'Based on Sunni sources' for religious texts. This move reflects ongoing tensions regarding the representation and rights of Sunni Muslims in Iran, who face various restrictions in their cultural and religious practices.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The Iranian Ministry of Culture's decision to modify book titles reflects an attempt to address Sunni community concerns and improve cultural representation.

👥 Key Players

Abbas Salehi MENTIONED
Cultural Deputy of the Minister of Culture
"He plays a crucial role in shaping cultural policies in Iran, particularly regarding the representation of religious minorities."
Kurdish Publishers MENTIONED
Local publishers in Kurdistan Province
"They represent the interests of the Sunni population in Iran and are directly affected by government policies on religious texts."

📰 What Happened

The Iranian Ministry of Culture is responding to Kurdish publishers' requests to change the phrase 'For Sunni' on book covers to 'Based on Sunni sources.' This change aims to clarify the context of the books and address concerns from the Sunni community.

  • The phrase 'For Sunni' was previously used on books related to Sunni beliefs and jurisprudence.
  • The Ministry of Culture is also addressing concerns about the review process for Kurdish language books.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This move could ease tensions between the government and Sunni communities, promoting a more inclusive cultural policy.
🌍 Regional: It may influence how minority groups in other parts of Iran perceive their rights and representation.
🌐 International: The treatment of Sunni Muslims in Iran is of interest to international human rights organizations and could affect Iran's diplomatic relations.

📚 Background

Sunnis in Iran, who make up a significant minority, often face restrictions in their religious and cultural practices, leading to ongoing tensions with the Shia-dominated government.

Religious minorities in Iran Kurdish cultural rights
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information comes from state-affiliated news agencies, which may present the government's perspective favorably.

Abbas Salehi, the cultural deputy of the Minister of Culture, announced on Sunday that the ministry will follow up on the request of publishers in Kurdistan Province to remove the phrase 'For Sunni' from their books. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Salehi made this statement on the evening of April 22 in a gathering of publishers and activists in the printing and publishing sector of Kurdistan. He stated, 'We are pursuing this issue to be resolved' and that the phrase 'Based on Sunni sources' should only be included on books related to Sunni beliefs and jurisprudence. The Mehr News Agency reported that in the past, the title 'For Sunni' was printed on the covers of books in the field of Sunni beliefs and jurisprudence, which has now changed to 'Based on Sunni sources' under the current government. Salehi added that the mentioned title should only be printed on the covers of books published in the field of beliefs and jurisprudence, and publishers should not comply if someone requests this phrase to be included on books in other fields. The cultural deputy also referred to the dissatisfaction of some publishers in Kurdistan regarding the review process of Kurdish language books. He urged the reviewing officials to 'make trips to Kurdistan Province and reconsider the books that have been rejected.' This official from the Ministry of Culture also added that 'the issuance of publication licenses for Kurdish books will be delegated to Kurdistan Province.' Salehi further stated, 'Publishers in Kurdistan Province who have active licenses can participate in all exhibitions, and if there have been any instances of bias, they should be addressed.' Sunnis, who make up a significant portion of Iran's population, face numerous restrictions in carrying out their religious, social, and cultural activities.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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