Tehran Book Fair Opening: Rouhani Warns Against Subjective Censorship

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, warned on Tuesday at the opening of the 28th Tehran International Book Fair about the dangers of subjective censorship of books and the imposition of strict controls on publishers and authors. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Rouhani stated, "Our principles for publishing must be completely clear, transparent, and concise." He added that if the issue of book oversight becomes "subjective, then it will become such that the first print is allowed, the second print is banned, and the third print is recommended, and God forbid that one day these issues become factional and the interests of individuals and groups are taken into account." Rouhani had previously emphasized the diminishing role of government oversight in book publishing. His remarks at the previous Tehran Book Fair opening had also caused controversy when he stated, "Cultural owners do not need morality patrols" and that he is not in favor of government censorship. However, at the opening of this year's book fair, he said, "We cannot open the gates so wide that every superstition or extreme statement is made available to teenagers and youth in the name of books, religion, and revolution." He then stressed that "we cannot be so strict that every day creates difficulties for authors and publishers, forcing them to navigate through convoluted alleys." Rouhani's government initially defended the idea of assigning censorship to publishers and writers, but Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, later changed his stance, deeming pre-publication censorship as "a governmental principle," just as Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, has emphasized that the government must oversee the cultural sphere and have a "guiding role." Nevertheless, Rouhani stated at the opening of this year's Tehran Book Fair that the government must make it easier for publishers and authors in terms of software. He concluded by saying, "Our space must be one of safety and freedom. Of course, principles such as respect for religious culture and the framework of national security, national interests, and attention to Islamic, national, and religious identity must also be considered by everyone."