Publishers Abroad Launch 'Tehran, Without Censorship' in Germany

Independent publishers and writers abroad held the seventh edition of the 'Tehran, Without Censorship' book fair in Stuttgart, Germany, on Thursday, May 3. This month-long exhibition features 20 publishers under the slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom,' away from the censorship of Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. According to Hamid Mahdipoor, director of the Forough Publishing and Bookstore in Cologne, there has been no accurate and truthful analysis of the past and future due to the Islamic Republic for years. He stated, 'Unfortunately, censorship prevents us from having a correct analysis of various issues, and future generations will lack a proper understanding of the political and social conditions. Censorship always creates this obstruction. Our effort is to break this barrier in Iran, and we have been successful so far. The impact of the Women, Life, Freedom movement has made more young people aware of the conditions in Iranian society, and their interest in the books we publish has significantly increased.' Recent events in Iran, including repression, arrests, killings, and executions referred to as state-sanctioned murder, have prompted many writers and publishers who had submitted to censorship for decades to break their silence and confront the truth. Amir Modir from Nakhoja Publishing said, 'Books are a clear embodiment of truth, and if this truth can be expressed openly and without censorship, it can influence the foundation of society and lead to its progress and development. When a writer can assert their oversight with their pen and put it into writing, we will certainly witness significant elevation and progress in society in the long run.' The seventh 'Tehran, Without Censorship' book fair is held under circumstances where many writers, journalists, and civil activists are spending their time behind bars due to crossing the red lines of the Islamic Republic.