Global Journalist

Iran's War of Words

By Omid Memarian Posted Wed, Mar 21 2007

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As a journalist for Hayat-e Nou, one of Tehran's most popular reformist papers, I understand that certain topics are taboo regardless of the relevance importance or reliability of facts and sources. In Iran, what was untouchable was untouchable and “freedom of speech” was a rare experience.

It is under this tough censorship climate that blogging was introduced as a new form of media worldwide; it appeared as the miracle phenomenon of the 21st century for media in Iran. In late 2001, during a discussion between fellow journalists in the newsroom, a friend spoke of “personal spaces on the Internet that provide self-publishing tools.” He showed us his Web page and said, “Here is my blog.” Every blogger could edit his or her material without further regard to editorial censorship, though governmental censorship would still apply. A famous journalist and role model, Sina Motallebi was among the first to create a comprehensive blog and gained tremendous attention from readers in a short time, especially as he covered content that could never be published in newspapers. Shortly thereafter, inspired by his success, I launched my own Web log and included material that would otherwise be deemed too risky for print publication. It was an amazing feeling of freedom to suddenly be able to control the content of the material I wanted to share with the world.

A Tradition of Censorship

The main challenges for media in Iran include old and inefficient press laws, lack of understanding of the true role of media, the domination of “conspiracy theory” toward journalists and censorship. Since I started my writing career in 1999, I have experienced three forms of censorship in my professional work: self-censorship, editorial and governmental.

There are varying shades of editorial media censorship in Iran. Topics directly relating to the government such as Islamic laws and bylaws, the Supreme Leader, the Clergy establishment, and religious foundations are never acceptable subject matter. Any form of criticism about them is ground for punishment. Then there are the gray areas where a journalist has to speculate on what is or is not acceptable. Being a journalist in Iran is like walking on a landmine: You never know when you will stumble over a topic that is unacceptable at the time. Given the political climate of the day, it is unclear how volatile the situation will become if you publish an article covering daily social issues.

There is a high degree of sensitivity toward topics that portray a less-than-perfect picture of the government, including prostitution, poverty, drugs and the “underground lifestyle” in Iran. Editors regularly eliminate portions of written pieces to ensure they are safe to publish. Often the published version are merely a ghost of the original document, which is why editors are referred to as the “censorship scissors”-surgeons who amputate the articles to an almost unrecognizable state.

As a victim of such censorship, there were times when I felt upset over the extreme edits on my pieces, which almost made them unrecognizable to even myself. There was no convincing the editor to limit the alteration of my piece to the point where it was misleading and confusing to the reader. The only response I received was, “Nothing will change in the world with two paragraphs more or less.”

The more dangerous scissor is governmental censorship. Journalists are monitored by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and different intelligence services on a regular basis. At times they are arrested and questioned without any real grounds. The main goal of these intelligence authorities is to invoke fear among even the most courageous journalists who insist on sharing the truth regardless of the consequences.

Security agents can close a newspaper and arrest journalists based on their writings. During my tenure at Hayat-e Nou newspaper, security officials – without a declaration of specific charges – arrested all five journalists who worked there at least once. I knew someday I would face a similar fate.

Freedom in Cyberspace

First journalists and writers started blogging but before long students, women activists and thousands of other people turned to blogging-the only arena where they felt free to express themselves and be heard.

Since 1997 the Islamic authorities have shut down more than 100 newspapers and magazines. Also, the government has control over television and radio. There are many other propaganda organizations that influence all aspects of society, including the Islamic Propaganda Organization, Friday Prayers Imam's Council and a nationwide network of Basijis that are closely linked to thousands of mosques. However, with the popularity and increase of access to the Internet, blogging is flourishing, and the monopoly over the dissemination of information by the government is diminishing.

Unlike the newspapers, books and the other mediums, which require proper licensing, Web pages can be created with anonymity and without authorization. It is a horizontal environment that has generated freedom, equality and openness among Iranians-a society where more than 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, according to the government's National Youth Organization.

Blogging has opened a new door for an Iranian society that has rarely experienced freedom of speech before or after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. It has also provided a new glimpse into the societies true needs, interests, obsessions and issues. The government is obtaining information on people's true views, while parents are gaining a better understanding of the younger generation.

Especially since the Revolution of 1979, Iranians have learned to live in two separate worlds: the public and private. Most people appear and live differently behind closed doors. Foreign visitors are always in awe of the huge contrast between people's private lives (where they behave freely with a large degree of individualism) and their public lives, which is strongly governed by Islamic law; it is often hard to get a true picture of the realities of Iran. Blogging has become the telescope into the private lives of Iranians. Bloggers can discuss their daily life, habits, likes and dislikes, even sexuality, and more importantly, express their political views in a free and interactive way.

The Voice of Authority

The Islamic government has been wary of the role of the Internet in society, especially since they have seen the effect that the use of the Internet has had on politics during the recent years. When security forces increased pressure on newspapers in 2003 many activists and political groups migrated to the virtual space and continued their work through their Web sites. A wave of activists and politicians joined the blogger community.

During the past couple of years, hot topics for bloggers have included discussion and criticism of religious issues; power struggles among clerics; intelligence departments; military, social and political crises and US-Iran relations. Although the Islamic government prohibited newspapers from openly discussing Iran's nuclear policies, women's and human right's movements, and political prisoners, blogs have openly covered these issues and have become an effective alternative for the dissemination of “good” information. Therefore, authorities have become very critical of bloggers and have tried to intimidate and instill fear in them by making random arrests and placing the bloggers in solitary confinement.

In 2004 the Islamic Intelligence Service arrested 21 bloggers, journalists and Web site technicians and kept them under illegal detention for two months and denied them access to a lawyer. This was the largest sweep of arrests, which portrayed the government's fear of the role of bloggers in diminishing the government's monopoly on media. Eventually, they were released after a huge campaign by international organizations, reformists and bloggers who vigilantly wrote about their arrest.

I was among these journalists and bloggers, and though being needlessly detained and imprisoned was a devastating experience, it made me more adamant to write in my blog and share my experiences during detention. Many bloggers linked to my posts and supported me psychologically, ironically making me more popular and more insistent on continuing my work. Since then, the government has summoned many other bloggers who criticize the regime and its policies, but this has not stopped their efforts either. Even filters placed on what the government considers “dangerous blogs” inside or outside the country don't stop people from using proxy breakers to reach beyond these virtual blockades.

Today, blogging is as popular as ever and has many functions in the society from the exchange of information and ideas, to gathering the social power to create networks of common interests, to educational purposes, to breaking social limitations and establishing a new code of ethics. Blogging is allowing this young society to cover uncharted territory freely, regardless of the restrictions and punishments the government might implement.