The Deputy Minister of Arts at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance defended the controversies and restrictions on holding concerts in Mashhad, stating, 'Has anyone ever held a concert in the Vatican?' Mahmoud Salari emphasized in an interview with the Farhikhtegan newspaper that last year, 3,913 concerts were held across the country, with an average attendance of over 1,200 people at these concerts. Salari mentioned that 'currently' only pop music is not performed in 'the city of Mashhad' and that 'Mashhad should not stray from its pilgrimage nature and should not become touristy.' The ban on holding concerts in Mashhad and Qom has a long history. In the fall of 2016, Hossein Nooshabadi, the then-spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated that 'the policy of this ministry under Hassan Rouhani's government has been to not grant permits for concerts in the two religious cities of Mashhad and Qom, and no concerts have been held in these two cities so far.' Critics at that time pointed out that accepting the 'non-holding' of concerts in Mashhad and Qom could lead to the spread of this approach to other cities, and some Friday prayer leaders from other cities, including Shiraz, Urmia, Ramsar, and Sirjan, also called for the cancellation of concerts in those cities. The decision by Hassan Rouhani's government to not hold music concerts in Mashhad and Qom was made after protests and speeches by some clerics against holding concerts in 'the holy cities of Iran.' The Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, Ahmad Alamolhoda, who is the father-in-law of Ebrahim Raisi, controversially stated: 'You cannot hold a concert next to the Imam Reza dome; this is against the dignity and identity of this city. If you want to hold a concert, do not be from Mashhad; go live in another city.' Ahmad Alamolhoda, representative of Ali Khamenei in Khorasan Razavi province, is an opponent of holding concerts in this city, and in recent years, several music groups' programs have been canceled in Mashhad due to the intervention of provincial officials. New troubles for the people and concert organizers; Maziar Fallahi: The view of art in the Islamic Republic is 'security-oriented.' The singing permit for Sahar Mohammadi was not issued; Pournaziri canceled 'I Have Returned.' Failed attempts by 'self-appointed forces' to disrupt a concert at the Vahdat Hall. Women without hijabs present at the Ministry of Interior Hall; 'Abolish the compulsory hijab law.' Returning to initial settings; again canceling concerts and creating restrictions for artists. The Islamic Republic's efforts to normalize and impose forgetfulness through the tool of art.
Ministry of Culture Defends Concert Ban in Mashhad; 'Has Anyone Ever Held a Concert in the Vatican?'
The Iranian Ministry of Culture defended the long-standing ban on concerts in Mashhad, citing the city's religious significance. Critics fear this ban could extend to other cities, reflecting ongoing tensions between cultural expression and religious conservatism in Iran. The situation highlights the struggle over artistic freedom in a country where government policies often prioritize religious values over cultural events.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Ministry of Culture defended the ban on concerts in Mashhad, citing the city's religious significance. This decision continues a long-standing policy to restrict concerts in religious cities like Mashhad and Qom.
- Mashhad is considered a religious city, and concerts are banned to preserve its pilgrimage nature.
- The ban has been in place since at least 2016, with ongoing debates about cultural expression versus religious values.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of balancing cultural policies with religious values, often leading to restrictions on artistic expressions in religious cities.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%