Iranian newspaper banned over ‘provocative’ content

The Public Relations Division at Iran’s Ministry of Guidance and Islamic Culture announced it has banned a weekly newspaper for the “provocative” topics it discusses and the “indecent” behavior of its female journalists. A ban will was imposed on the weekly newspaper Sokhn Tazah, which is published in the central province of Kerman and specializes in culture, society, and the arts, for violating public morality, said the head of the ministry’s Public Relations Division, Ahmed Saeidi. “Throughout the past years, we have noticed that the paper is publishing provocative topics and we have warned them several times,” he said. According to Saeidi, the paper tackles issues that are not stated in its official papers and constantly criticizes government polices. This led the Revolutionary Court to issue an order to shut it down. “According to the complaint filed at the court, the paper’s editor-in-chief, Batoul Hashemi, is charged with spreading lies and inciting public opinion through publishing topics that promote the practice of corruption. She also published stories that threaten national security,” said Saeidi Hashemi, he added, also allows the publishing of stories and photographs that violate public decency. Another reason for banning the paper, Saeidi explained, was the behavior of the journalists working there. “The journalists in the paper are known for not abiding by the veil and for wearing too much makeup that exceed that permitted limit.” The conference was attended by the imam of the province’s capital, Kerman, who is the representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in the province. His presence was seen as a clear sign of the supreme leader’s consent to the procedure of banning the paper.