Censorship in Iran

In Iran, censorship was ranked among the world's most extreme in 2024. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 176 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index,[1] which ranks countries based on the level of freedom of the press.[2] Reporters Without Borders described Iran as “one of the world’s five biggest prisons for media personnel" in the 40 years since the revolution.[1] In the Freedom House Index, Iran scored low on political rights and civil liberties and has been classified as 'not free.'[3]

Iran has strict regulations when it comes to internet censorship.[4][5] The Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps persistently block social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram[6][7][8][9] along with many popular websites such as Blogger, HBO, YouTube, and Netflix.[10] Despite the state-wide ban, some Iranian politicians use social networks, including Twitter and Facebook, to communicate with their followers.[11][12][13][14]

Internet censorship in Iran functions similarly to the Great Firewall of China. Stricter monitoring and the National Information Network (NIN) was used during the 2019 Iranian protests.[15][5][16][9] These restrictions made it more difficult for videos of unrest in Iran to be posted or viewed on social media.[17]

After YouTube was blocked in Iran, the Aparat website was founded as an Iranian video-sharing platform. In 2020, Aparat's CEO was sentenced to 10 years in prison due to the activity of one of the platform's users.[18][19] Millions of Iranians stay connected on social media despite the government's restrictions [20] by using proxies or virtual private networks (VPNs).

On November 17, 2019,[21] in response to fuel protests,[22][5] the country shut down nearly all internet access.[4][9] This reduced internet traffic down to 5% of ordinary levels.[23][15][24]

In November 2024 Iran was reportedly talking about removing internet restrictions.[25]

## In practice

[edit]

After the Islamic revolution in 1979, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, also known as the Ershad, was created to control all cultural activities in the country.[26] Since then, all musicians, writers, artists, and media makers need permits to publicly display their work. The Ershad is in charge of providing these permits and judges whether each producer's work aligns with Islamic culture. Different departments within the Ershad are responsible for interpreting what should and should not be censored.[26] At the head of this bureaucratic organization are both the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Journalists also need a license before they can legally start working.[27] Licenses for journalists are provided by the Press Supervisory Board, and a license is withdrawn if a journalist criticizes the State.[27]

Censorship in Iran is not an act by an individual, but is a process that involves interaction and negotiation. The complexity and ambiguity of the system stimulate self-censorship while creating a culture of censorship.[26] Criticism of the Supreme Leader, for example, is strictly prohibited. Any journalist or artist who does not obey the Iranian state can face severe punishment.[27]

### Laws and regulations

[edit]

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See also

* Banned political parties by country
* Blasphemy law by country
* Freedom of speech by country
* Hate speech laws by country
* Internet censorship and surveillance by country

* v
* t
* e

The Iranian Constitution contains many articles which restrict the flow of information. However, the phrases in its articles are often ambiguously worded. These vague articles leave room for interpretation about what is legal and what isn't.[28] Censorship regulation is, therefore, a highly subjective practice which depends on the interpretation of the individual bureaucrat in charge, who dictates whether censorship will be applied or not.[28] The articles in the Constitution can, therefore, easily be used by government officials who want to suppress dissenting voices.[27] The Iranian Constitution does not protect journalists and artists by giving them rights.[27]

The Constitution contains very general rules concerning freedom of expression. Article 24 states: "Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the public. The details of this exception will be specified by law."[29] There is no existing law that specifies the details of this exception.[28]

Article 3 of the Press Law states: "The press have the right to publish the opinions, constructive criticisms, suggestions and explanations of individuals and government officials for public information while duly observing the Islamic teachings and the best interest of the community."[30] The first part of this law prescribes a number of freedoms for the press, but the second part restricts these freedoms with very broad exceptions. Anything can be labeled as against "the principles of Islam" or "the rights of the public".

Article 500 of the penal code states: "Anyone who engages in any type of propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran or in support of opposition groups and associations shall be sentenced to three months to one year of imprisonment."[31] "Propaganda" is not clearly defined. This vagueness gives judges a lot of room for interpreting what is against the law and should therefore be punished.

## History

[edit]

Iran has a long history of censorship, especially with reactive measures. Information in newspapers and on television has been withheld from the public since before the Iranian Revolution of 1979.[32] These forms of censorship were used for suppression of opposition and for influencing public opinion.[26] Censorship in Iran comes in waves which exist parallel to political crises. In situations of crisis, the state tries to get power back by controlling information streams and thereby denying opposition groups influence on the public debate.[26] During the crisis that followed the nationalization of the oil industry in the 1950s, censorship was intensified to protect the Shah's reputation. During the 1970s, in the years preceding the revolution, censorship was less present in Iranian society. This allowed Iranian literature and culture to develop.[28] However, in the years after the Revolution, the government has intensified censorship again. The new Islamic leaders tried to consolidate their power by enforcing new regulations. In the crisis after the 2009 elections, communication channels were shut down to prevent major uprisings.[26] In 2025, the independent multilingual outlet IranNews.ge published a documentary-style report titled Forbidden Land: A Documentary Account of Media and Digital Censorship in the Islamic Republic, examining the structural, legal, and technological instruments used by Iranian authorities to suppress digital freedoms and restrict media access.[33]

## Subject matter and agenda

[edit]

### Political

[edit]

The Iranian regime view censorship as a measure to maintain the stability of the country. Its goal is to prevent unapproved reformists, Counter-Revolutionaries, or religious proponents, peaceful or otherwise, from organizing themselves and spreading their ideas. In 2007, for example, five women were charged with "endangering national security" and sentenced to prison for collecting over a million signatures supporting the abolishment of laws discriminating against women.[34]

Some of the topics explicitly banned from discussion in the media by the Supreme National Security Council include Iran's economic troubles, the possibility of new international sanctions targeted at Iran's nuclear program, negotiations with the United States regarding Iraq, social taboos, unrest among Iran's ethnic minorities, and the arrests in 2007 of Haleh Esfandiari, Kian Tajbakhsh and Ali Shakeri.[34][35]

### Media

[edit]

See also: Media of Iran

Two notable crackdowns on the Iranian press occurred on August 7–11, 1979. This was early in the Islamic Revolution when the Khamenei forces were consolidating control, and dozens of non-Islamist newspapers were banned under a new press law banning "counter-revolutionary policies and acts."[36]

Despite a ban on satellite television, dishes are on many Iranian rooftops, and people have access to dozens of Persian-language channels, including the Voice of America, broadcasting a daily dose of politics and entertainment. Thirty percent of Iranians watch satellite channels, but observers say the figures are likely to be higher.[37]

A number of unauthorized foreign radio services also broadcast into Iran on shortwave and encounter occasional jamming by the Iranian government due to their controversial nature. Such services include a popular phone-in program from Kol Israel (Voice of Israel), where callers must dial a number in Europe to be rerouted to the studio in Israel in order to protect against persecution for communicating with an enemy state.[38]

In March 2009, Amoo Pourang (Uncle Pourang), a television show watched by millions of Iranian children three times a week on state TV, was pulled from broadcasting after a child appearing on the program called his pet monkey "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" live on air.[39]

In September 2017, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the Iranian judicial system and intelligence services (VEVAK) for their attempts to put pressure on Iranian journalists based abroad and on their families still in Iran. This was done to influence the Persian-language sections of international media outlets such as the BBC Persian Service to broadcast pro-government programs and news.[40]

### Internet

[edit]

Main article: Internet censorship in Iran

In the first decade of the 21st century, Iran experienced a great surge in Internet usage. With 20 million people on the Internet, Iran currently has the second-highest percentage of its population online in the Middle East, after Israel. When initially introduced, the Internet services provided by the government within Iran were comparatively open. Many users saw the internet as an easy way to get around Iran's strict press laws.[41][42] In recent years, Internet service providers have been told to block access to pornographic and anti-religion websites. The ban has also targeted gaming platforms, such as Steam, as well as popular social networking sites, like Facebook and YouTube, alongside some news websites.[37]

Internet usage has also been shut down country-wide to limit the organization of protests.[43][44][45] The Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Sepah have routinely blocked popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter,[46][47][48] and they decided to shut down the Internet during the protests in Iran in 2019.[49][50] Many internet businesses were shut down during the 2019–20 Iranian protests.[51][52][48]

### Banned media

[edit]

In 2010, the Iranian government started using cropping and other editing techniques to censor foreign movies deemed offensive or immoral. The strategy behind this was that citizens would stop seeking out illegal or uncensored versions if approved versions of the films were broadcast. Censorship cut out the following: alcoholic beverages, sorcery, men and women sitting too close together or touching, closeups of women's faces, low necklines on shirts, and many others. People are sometimes edited out, or objects are strategically placed to cover what is considered inappropriate. For example, a low neckline on a woman's shirt is edited to be more modest. Dialogue in foreign films is also oftentimes rewritten. For example, romantic implications are replaced with marriage proposals.[53]

#### Books

[edit]

Main article: Book censorship in Iran

* The Satanic Verses
* Memories of My Melancholy Whores[54]

#### Films

[edit]

* The Circle[55]
* Crimson Gold
* Half Moon[56][57]
* Offside
* Persepolis
* Tcherike-ye Tara
* Ten
* Santouri
* Marmoulak was banned for many years
* Time of Love
* 300

#### Video games

[edit]

* Battlefield 3[58]
* ARMA 3[59][60]
* 1979 Revolution: Black Friday[61]
* Pokémon Go[62]

### Religious

[edit]

The agents of censorship are sometimes not official government employees but religious organizations. In 2007, after student newspapers at Amirkabir University of Technology published articles suggesting that no human being—including Muhammad—could be infallible, eight student leaders were arrested and taken to Evin Prison.[34]

Distributing Christian literature in Persian (also known as Farsi) is prohibited.[63][64]

Censorship of the name of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, former Shah of Iran, in a tomb in Iran

## See also

[edit]

* Iran portal

* Blasphemy law in Iran
* Internet censorship in Iran
* 2019 Internet blackout in Iran
* National Information Network of Iran
* Nashravaran Journalistic Institute
* Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
* Islamic Revolutionary Court for slandering the Supreme Leaders
* Communications in Iran
* International rankings of Iran
* Media in Iran
* Iran Electoral Archive
* Maziar Bahari

## References

[edit]

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## External links

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Iranian government bans critical media

* ARTICLE19, "Tightening the Net: Internet Freedoms in Iran" -a monitoring series of reports on the state of internet censorship in Iran.
* Hejazi, Arash, ‘You don’t deserve to be published’ Book Censorship in Iran, LOGOS: The Journal of the World Book Community, Volume 22, Number 1, 2011, pp. 53–62(10), doi:10.1163/095796511X562644
* Music censorship incidents in Iran – reported by Freemuse
* Committee against censorship (Iran Proxy) – Anti Censorship Committee in Iran
* Pictures of Iranian Censorship – Examples of Iranian Censorship in Western Magazines
* I will not register my site – Antiregistering website & blogs logo and Censorship google bombing.]
* Banned Magazine, the online journal of censorship and secrecy
* Iran's Digital Underground by David Feith, The Wall Street Journal, 10 August 2009
* Iran Electoral Archive – Media & Censorship

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History

Prehistory

Ancient|

| 3400–539 BC|

* Kura-Araxes culture (3400–2000 BC)
* Proto-Elamite civilization (3100–2700 BC)
* Elamite dynasties (2700–540 BC)
* Akkadian Empire (c.2334 BC–c.2154 BC)
* Lullubi (c.2300–675 BC)
* Kassites (c.1595–c.1155 BC)
* Kingdom of Mannai (10th–7th century BC)
* Neo-Assyrian Empire (911–609 BC)
* Urartu (860 BC–590 BC)
* Median Empire (678–549 BC)
* Scythian Kingdom (652–625 BC)
* Neo-Babylonian Empire (626–539 BC)

|

550 BC–AD 224|

* Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC)
* Atropatene (c.323 BC–AD 226)
* Kingdom of Armenia (321 BC–AD 428)
* Kingdom of Cappadocia (320s BC–AD 17)
* Seleucid Empire (312–63 BC)
* Frataraka (c.295–220 BC)
* Kingdom of Pontus (281 BC–AD 62)
* Parthian Empire (247 BC–AD 224)
* Kings of Persis (after 132 BC–AD 224)

AD 224–651|

* Sasanian Empire (AD 224–651)

Medieval and
early modern|

| 632–1090|

* Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)
* Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
* Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)
* Samanid dynasty (819–999)
* Tahirid dynasty (821–873)
* Alavid dynasty (864–928)
* Saffarid dynasty (861–1003)
* Ziyarid dynasty (931–1090)
* Buyid dynasty (934–1062)

|

977–1432|

* Ghaznavid Empire (977–1186)
* Ghurid dynasty (1011–1215)
* Seljuk Empire (1037–1194)
* Anushtegin dynasty (1077–1231)
* Eldiguzids (1135/36-1225)
* Kart dynasty (1244–1381)
* Ilkhanate (1256–1335)
* Muzaffarid dynasty (1314–1393)
* Jalayirid Sultanate dynasty (1335–1432)
* Chobanid dynasty (1338–1357)

1370–1925|

* Timurid Empire (1370–1507)
* Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans (1374–1468)
* Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans (1378–1508)
* Safavid Empire (1501–1736)
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* Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911)
* 1908 bombardment of the Majlis
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* 1921 Persian coup d'état
* Arab separatism in Khuzestan (1922–2020)

Modern|

| 1925–1979|

* Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979)
* Shatt al-Arab dispute (1936–1975)
* Iran crisis of 1946
* Insurgency in Balochistan (1948–)
* 1949 Iranian Constituent Assembly election
* 1953 coup d'état
* Iranian Revolution (1979)

|

Islamic Republic
1979–present|

* History (1979–)
* Interim Government (1979)
* March 1979 Iranian Islamic Republic referendum
* 1979 Khuzestan insurgency
* Iran hostage crisis (1979–1981)
* December 1979 Iranian constitutional referendum
* Iranian Embassy siege (1980)
* Nojeh coup plot (1980)
* Iran–Iraq War (1980–88)
* Interim Government of Iran (1981)
* 1987 Mecca incident
* Iran Air Flight 655 shootdown (1988)
* KDPI insurgency (1989–1996)
* PJAK conflict (2004–)
* 2009 Iranian presidential election protests
* Syrian civil war (2011–)
* International military intervention against the Islamic State (2014–)
* Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (2015)
* United States withdrawal (2018)
* 2017–2018 Iranian protests
* 2018–2019 Iranian general strikes and protests
* COVID-19 pandemic
* 2019 Sistan and Baluchestan protests
* 2019–2020 Iranian protests
* 2021 Sistan and Baluchestan protests
* 2021–2022 Iranian protests

See also|

* Ancient Persians
* Greater Iran
* Persianization
* Persianate society
* Turco-Persian
* Indo-Persian
* Iranic peoples
* languages
* Jiroft culture
* Aryans
* Azerbaijanis
* Peoples of the Caucasus
* Persians
* Monarchs of Persia
* Heads of state of Iran
* History of democracy in classical Iran
* Military history
* Electric history
* Years in Iran

Geography

* Borders
* Cities
* largest
* twin towns and sister cities
* Earthquakes
* Environmental issues
* Climate change
* Iranian Azerbaijan
* Iranian Balochistan
* Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests
* Caucasus
* Iranian Kurdistan
* Iranian plateau
* Lake Urmia
* Islands
* Mountains
* Provinces
* Wildlife

Politics

| General|

* Censorship
* Constitution (Persian Constitutional Revolution)
* Corruption
* Elections (2009 presidential)
* Foreign relations
* Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
* Human rights
* Children's rights
* LGBT
* Women's rights
* Judicial system
* Military (Army
* Air Force
* Navy)
* Ministry of Intelligence
* Cyberwarfare
* Nuclear program (UN Security Council Resolution 1747)
* Political parties
* Principlists
* Propaganda
* Reformists
* Terrorism (state-sponsorship allegations)
* White Revolution (1963)
* Women's rights movement

|

Councils|

* Assembly (or Council) of Experts
* Expediency Discernment Council
* Guardian Council
* Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament)
* Local councils
* Supreme National Security Council

Officials|

* Ambassadors
* President
* Provincial governors
* Supreme Leader

Economy

| General|

* Bonyad (charitable trust)
* Brain drain
* Companies (Automotive industry)
* Child labour
* Corruption
* Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
* Economic history
* Economic Reform Plan
* Energy
* Environmental issues
* Foreign direct investment
* Intellectual property
* International oil bourse
* International rankings
* Iran and the World Trade Organization
* Taxation
* Main economic laws
* Economy of the Middle East
* Milad Tower and complex
* Military equipment manufactured
* Nuclear program (UN Security Council Resolution 1747)
* Privatization
* Rial (currency)
* Space Agency
* Setad
* Supreme Audit Court
* Tehran Stock Exchange
* Venture capital (Technology start-ups)

|

Sectors|

* Agriculture (fruit)
* Banking and insurance
* Central Bank
* Shetab Banking System
* Construction
* Defense
* Health care (Pharmaceuticals)
* Industry
* Mining
* Petroleum (Anglo-Persian Oil Company)
* Telecommunications and IT (TCI)
* Transport (airlines
* metro
* railways
* shipping)
* Tourism

State-owned
companies|

* Defense Industries Organization (DIO)
* Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO)
* Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO)
* Iran Electronics Industries (IEI)
* National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)
* National Development Fund

Places|

* Asaluyeh industrial corridor
* Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone
* Kish Island Free Trade Zone
* Research centers

Society

| Demographics|

| Languages|

* Persian (Farsi)
* Armenian
* Azerbaijani
* Kurdish
* Hebrew
* Georgian
* Neo-Aramaic
* Iranian languages

|

Peoples|

* Iranian citizens (abroad)
* Ethnic minorities
* Armenians
* Assyrians
* Azerbaijanis
* Circassians
* Georgians
* Kurds
* Jews
* Turkmen

Religion|

* Islam
* Baháʼí Faith (persecution)
* Christianity
* Zoroastrians (persecution)
* Freedom of religion

Other|

* Corruption
* Crime
* Education (higher
* Intellectual movements
* scientists and scholars
* universities)
* International rankings
* Nationality
* Water supply and sanitation
* Women

Culture|

* Architecture (Achaemenid
* architects)
* Art (modern / contemporary)
* Astronomy
* Blogs
* Calendars (Persian New Year (Nowruz))
* Fashion
* Chicago Persian antiquities dispute
* Cinema
* Cuisine (wine)
* Folklore
* Intellectual movements
* Iranians
* Iranian studies
* Islam (Islamization)
* Literature
* Media (news agencies (student)
* newspapers)
* Mythology
* National Jewels
* National symbols (Imperial Anthem)
* Opium consumption
* Persian gardens
* Persian name
* Philosophy
* Public holidays
* Scouting
* Sport (football)

Music|

* Folk
* Jazz
* Pop
* Rap and hip-hop
* Rock
* Traditional
* Ey Iran

Other topics|

* Science and technology
* Anti-Iranian sentiment
* Tehrangeles

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