Ministry of Culture: 'The Decline of the Colonel' Will Not Receive Approval Until Revised

The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Culture stated that the novel 'The Decline of the Colonel' by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi has not received publication approval due to 'content issues and deficiencies' and will not be approved until it is revised. Dowlatabadi also mentioned on Wednesday, November 21, that he has decided to remain silent about 'The Decline of the Colonel' for a while to create fewer 'controversies' around his novel. According to ISNA news agency, Hossein Nooshabadi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, said on Tuesday, November 20, 'The book The Decline of the Colonel has not received publication approval due to content issues and deficiencies, and no approval will be issued until it is revised.' He also stated, 'We have only recommended revisions for books and have not said that we will not grant approval to anyone.' Mr. Nooshabadi emphasized that the Ministry of Culture does not consider the pressures from individuals and parties when issuing approvals and that the red lines of this ministry are the law and the issues raised by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. These statements come as the author of 'The Decline of the Colonel' mentioned on November 17 that he has not yet received 'any definitive news' from the Ministry of Culture regarding the status of his book's approval. Dowlatabadi stated that he intends to go to the Ministry of Culture and ask the Minister or the First Deputy why 'these harms' are being inflicted upon him. He also mentioned in June that he had seriously considered the proposed revisions regarding this novel for the fourth time and had taken them into account. The novel 'The Decline of the Colonel' was submitted to the Ministry of Culture for approval by Cheshmeh Publishing in 2008, but the Ministry withheld approval considering the 'revisions required.' This book has been resubmitted to the Book Administration of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance under the new government. On Wednesday, Mahmoud Dowlatabadi said, 'I would have loved to visit the press exhibition, but I know... journalists constantly ask me about The Decline of the Colonel. I do not want discussions about this book to start again in the media.' According to ILNA news agency, he added, 'I have decided to remain silent about The Decline of the Colonel for a while. I think this way, fewer controversies will arise around my novel.' 'The Decline of the Colonel,' written between 1983 and 1985, narrates Mahmoud Dowlatabadi's account of the 1979 Revolution. The storyline revolves around the life of a retired army colonel in the previous monarchy and his five children, who face bitter fates due to their political and social inclinations with the onset of the revolution. This book has been published in English and German. 'The Decline of the Colonel,' titled 'The Colonel' in English and German translations, was nominated for the British 'I' award in 2011, which is given to an outstanding work translated into English. This book was also one of the 12 nominees for the Asia Literary Booker Prize in 2011.