Prohibited Frames for Artists

The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported in an interview with Ali Asghar Pourmohammadi, the deputy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), that if an actor or anyone else collaborates with Persian-language satellite channels outside of Iran, the Iranian state television will refrain from working with them. Mr. Pourmohammadi, who did not hide the financial crisis within IRIB, acknowledged the right of artists to collaborate with these channels, stating that they cannot intervene in this matter and that anyone can go wherever they want. On Tuesday, Hossein Nourollahi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, once again warned against artists collaborating with foreign Persian-language satellite channels, urging them to be cautious not to inadvertently aid the enemy, as it is considered a violation. Mehdi Abdollazadeh, a film journalist in Switzerland, views the statements from IRIB officials and the Ministry of Culture as contradictory: "While facing a severe audience crisis and declining attractiveness, they are heavily reliant on these artists within Iran. However, until now, they have threatened these artists to avoid losing their grip, but it seems they are now adopting a somewhat softer approach, likely because they no longer hold a winning card. Furthermore, Mr. Nourollahi's comments reflect the government's concerns ahead of elections rather than the prevailing view of the Ministry of Culture." On December 4, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture referred to Article 10 of the 1995 law prohibiting satellite equipment, deeming its use illegal. Mr. Nourollahi's reference to this law comes despite Mahmoud Mohammadi, a member of the National Security Commission of the 7th Islamic Consultative Assembly, stating in a previous interview that the prohibition on discussing with Persian-language media abroad is only an ethical consideration: "This may not be legal, but there is certainly a moral and spiritual prohibition. We do not engage in discussions with radios or media that support countries whose enmity towards the Islamic Republic of Iran is clear to us." The crackdown on individuals collaborating with foreign Persian-language channels intensified following remarks about infiltration by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran: "Infiltration means networking within the nation through money, mainly through two means: money and sexual attractions." Mohammad Nourizad, a journalist and documentary filmmaker with a history of collaborating with IRIB, believes recent positions are connected to Khamenei's statements: "Here, a leader comes and makes a statement to relieve himself of international and internal pressures, and then the security apparatus identifies cases based on his words." Khamenei's remarks ultimately led to the arrest of several journalists, including Yaghma Golrouyi, a lyricist who collaborated with several Iranian artists residing in Los Angeles. Golrouyi had previously criticized government policies in the cultural sphere, particularly regarding music, stating: "I believe all those who work legally in Iran have given up somewhere. With all these people, if you sit privately with all the singers, composers, and lyricists, they all complain about the Ministry of Guidance, but none have the courage to speak out because they are satisfied with the meager income from absurd concerts." Reports also emerged in late October regarding the ban on 24 pop singers in Iran, citing their collaboration with the Radio Javan website and foreign satellite channels as the reason for this prohibition. On December 4, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture expressed optimism that their efforts had reduced advertisements on satellite channels and hoped this trend would continue. Despite these warnings, ISNA reports that such collaborations persist. Mohammad Nourizad stated: "I told one of these intelligence agents, 'Why do you interview with foreign networks?' I replied, 'You come and take your own IRIB to interview me, and then I won't interview anyone else.' When you close all doors to a poet, a protester, or a compatriot, foreign networks inevitably become a platform for showcasing the understanding and awareness of the people, which the government fears.' According to statistics provided by the then-head of IRIB in May, 60% of Tehran's population and an average of 40% of the country's population watch satellite channels.