Iran, under the clerical rule, is one of the countries in which freedom of speech, the pen, and media are nothing but an absurd joke.
From the beginning, this regime has repressed women and the people’s democratic freedoms. In this context, closing the newspapers and prohibiting magazines and books of progressive organizations and parties and universities with the excuse of its so-called ‘Cultural Revolution’ was among of its repressive actions against the people.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that everyone has the legal right to express their opinions, including the right to express their opinions without interference from governments. According to Reporters Without Borders, the religious dictatorship that governs Iran is one of the few governments in which the least freedom of the press and the media are not respected.
In Iran, there are many different and colorful newspapers and magazines, but they cannot be put under the subset of the ‘free media.’ Each of them belongs to one of the regime’s factions. They are all the regime’s tools for censorship and diversion of the people’s minds about the realities of the country, the regime such as its corruption and repression, and as well as the truth of the outside world.
Based on the regime’s laws, media directors and editorial members have to accept ‘heartfelt faith and practical commitment’ to the Velayat-e Faqih (supreme religious rule) and seek to uphold the principle of the system.
In a statement, the General Staff of the Regime’s Armed Forces stated the duty of such media outlets:
“Now that the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, more than security and economic activities with extensive media propaganda and psychological operations, are trying to undermine religious beliefs and show the Islamic Republic’s sacred system inefficient, instill division and mistrust between the nation and the ruling power, and by distorting events, seek to create tension and insecurity at the regional level, the media companions on the front lines of confronting soft war, have a very heavy mission in awareness-raising and intelligent confrontation, with the rumors and suspicions of the media empire, the dominance system (USA) and protection of the sacred goals and aspirations of the Islamic Revolution.” (State-run news agency Moj, August 7, 2021)
But the most important task assigned to these media outlets is to scare the people of any fundamental change in Iran in a situation whereby the government is overthrown. They write about anything in relation to their faction’s interests, but two things are their red line:
- They do not address the principle of the Velayat-e Faqih, and they exclude Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his office, and its affiliated institutions from any criticism. They are justified never to approach this range.
- Their second red line is the Iranian Resistance. They do not have the right to reflect reality or even impartially disseminate news about the People’s Mojahedin (MEK/PMOI) and its Resistance Units. In issues aimed at the security of the system, they advance that order which is ordered by higher institutions.
These two red lines are playing the role of an airbag to prevent any protests. When they are forced to reflect on the horrific realities inside Iran, the goal is to warn the regime about the danger of a fall and not to support the people.
A recent article by the state-run newspaper Etemad with the headline ‘Gasoline was just a flip!’ is in line with that goal.
This state-run newspaper while referring to the task of ‘benevolence, enlightenment, and reform’ is noting its uselessness and influence:
“For years, righteous opponents have been trying hard, breathtaking and costly campaigns to make power-holders realize that in many ways their paths are wrong and must be changed so that heavy accidents and heavy costs do not hit the country.
“Perhaps it can be claimed that this volume of benevolence, advice, criticism, and avoidance of violence and avoidance of greedy mobility and desire to reform things through legal means has been unprecedented so far, and despite the least possible effect in all writings and sayings, there is a strange and ambiguous and perhaps unprovoked hope.”
And this last sentence is the most important which is revealing the real goal of the regime’s media: “Because it is neither the time of the revolution nor the revolution is the right thing to do, nor is it rational to look at aliens is rational and conscious.”
And this is how the regime’s media are playing the role of the regime’s rescuers: “Officials should try to move society away from the point of despair because conflict is inevitable if we don’t see the gaps and correct it.” (State-run daily Hamdeli, October 30, 2021)
Another outlet warns the regime in such a way: “For our part, we warn that if the custodians of the affairs do not take fundamental action in a joint action and co-operation with all the people’s livelihood thinkers to deal with the situation that lies ahead, it will not be possible to get out of this crisis.” (State-run daily Arman, October 30, 2021)
These are just examples of the task of the dictator’s media to give ‘benevolent advice’ to preserve the dictatorship. But the reality is that change and revolution are some of the base fundamental rules of any society, and these media will not be able to change these rules.
