Iran’s Media and Internet Censorship

Policies A look at how Iran’s censorship policies will affect its re-

emergence into the global economy Chafica M. Khodr Agha

Cross Cultural Communication Policy

Policy Documents

• In my paper I focused on two key documents:• Iran’s Computer Crimes Act • The Articles of Association Statute, Islamic Republic of Iran

Broadcasting (IRIB)

Iran’s IRIB Policy • The General Policies and Principles of the Programs of the Organization IRIB

(Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) is a law that was ratified by the Council of Guardians in 1982

• The document has 65 articles, which cover all aspects of the media ranging from cultural and social programs to military and politically related media materials. Though it is directed towards the IRIB, a state owned broadcasting entity; it outlines general rules and principles for all media entities in the country.

• Despite having a detailed body of provisions in the doctrine, many of the Articles are vague and general which seems almost convenient for the Iranian government because it gives a broad amount of room for interpretation of what the scope of the articles include.

Iran’s Computer Crimes Act

• The Computer Crimes Act also has very general provisions that leave substantial room for the government and cyber police to interpret policies as they see fit.

• The requisite elements to constitute as an offense are often described with ambiguity and broadened terms which makes it difficult for private persons as well as corporate entities to decipher what forms of speech or even marketing would go against the “public morality and chastity” that the legal provisions include.

How will these policies affect Iran economically?

• The price of oil has decreased nearly 75% however, from nearly $115 a barrel to a record low of below $27

• In anticipation of Iran’s possible attempt to sell oil at below market values, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun to pump out its mega fields at record levels in an attempt to undermine Iran.

• Iran’s ability to maintain sustainable growth in its economy must come from its non-oil sectors, which will require a complete “reorientation” of the Iranian economy that can open up to international trade, foreign investments, and “unleash entrepreneurial forces that can spur investment, lift productivity, provide jobs, and raise living standards”

30 Years of Economic Sanctions on Iran

Iran and the International Oil Market

Iran Policies and Cultural Spaces

• In 2011 the Small Media Foundation published a report entitled Cultural Censorship in Iran. The report gave substantial insight into the ramifications of Iran’s current censorship policies in the media and Internet and how those policies are eradicating cultural spaces including literature, music, and other forms of expression.

• Though these cultural spaces may seem unrelated, they are intrinsically linked to the ability for Iran’s economy to stabilize, as they are some of the most fundamental aspects of a society’s ability to develop.

Three of the many filmmakers and musicians who have been jailed and tortured..

Continued…• Through the implementation of IRIB and other similar forms of legislation,

the government has the power to “[crack] down harshly against artists and publishers when it believes an act of subversion has occurred”.

• According to the same study, literature are and films deemed to be incompatible with the objectives of Islamic teachings, are often removed from bookstores and in some cases result in the bookstores as well as cinemas being shut down simply for distributing the product.

• Iranian artists and film makers then face a range of slanderous accusations as well as criminal charges which in turn discourages other Iranians from pursuing these forms of expression in fear of the consequences.

What needs to be done?• Given the state of Iran’s economy and the oil market it is clear that the

need for Iran to diversify its economy is imperative now more than ever. • However, the economy cannot be developed in conformity with Shiite

Islamic ideologies as it severely confines and slows the economic growth potential

• The government must make significant changes to its legislation as well as the manner in which it enforces those legislations

• Freedom of access to information and to distribute ideas/art is also an essential aspect in diversifying the Iranian economy