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Iran:
Report about Iran’s rampant censorship on art
“Artists self-censor in fear of risking harassment, arrest, flogging, or worse still, imprisonment,” states a new report about art and censorship in Iran. Also, a new magazine about human rights in Iran writes: “Censorship and self-censorship in Iran have reached their highest level”
On 27 September 2006 the independent human rights organisation Article 19 launched its new publication ‘Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’ which expresses deep concern about the rampant censorship within Iranian society.
“The culture of censorship has blurred the line between what is imposed by the State and what has become inherent to society itself. This has resulted in the powerful exercise of social censorship, as well as self-censorship of and by the artist,” said Article 19’s Executive Director Dr. Agnes Callamard at a launch event for the publication.
“Once indoors, veils can be discarded, rap, rock and pop can be blasted from stereos, hips can sway, banned poetry can be recited, prohibited literature read, forbidden films watched and art of any kind, can adorn the walls. But even these private expressions are not immune from the regime’s watchful eye.”
Quote from the report
The report illustrates the ways in which artistic censorship in Iran both shapes and is shaped, and it demonstrates where the focus of the conflict lies between the Islamic Republic of Iran and individual expression. Insights from first-hand interviews conducted by Article 19 are combined with statements from Iranian artists such as the Trash-metal band Explode, the singer Gissoo Shakeri, and the musician Nassir Mashkouri as well as analyses of an array of secondary-source commentaries.
“Control of the arts in Iran is a multi-layered affair, with artists facing a long sequence of hurdles, designed to censor and suppress artistic endeavours at every turn, to filter art that is not deemed consistent with ‘Islamic values’.”
Quote from the report
New magazine
A new bi-monthly online magazine, Gozaar, which aims at providing Iranians with a forum for discussing democracy and human rights, supports this view point:
“Today, censorship and self-censorship have reached their highest level in the post-revolutionary Iran,” Eisa Saharkhiz is quoted as saying in an interview in the first issue of Gozaar about freedom of the press. The article is entitled 'Unprecedented Levels of Censorship in Iran Today'.
Endure and transcend controls
The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 sought to sound the death knell for all forms of artistic expression. Dance was banned outright and other art forms such as music, theatre and cinema were all required to submit to the watchful eyes and firm hand of censorship of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council.
Even so, states the report, in spite of the mechanisms through which censorship is exercised and the myriad number of difficulties artists face in Iran, the rich artistic and cultural heritages of Iran has managed to endure and transcend these stringent controls.
Read more
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 8 in the report which is about music in Iran: 'Suffocating musical expression'
About Article 19
Article 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It is based in London and takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.
About Gozaar
Gozaar (which means "Transition") is published by Freedom House – an independent, non-governmental organisation that supports the expansion of freedom in the world. It is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under its Human Rights and Democracy programs, as well as private sources, and based in USA. The magazine is published in both Persian and English. |
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‘Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’
Click to download
Gozaar Magazine
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