Iranian Media Regulation
Speech regulation in Iran is rooted in its constitution, which declares that "the media should be used as a forum for healthy encounter of different ideas, but they must strictly refrain from diffusion and propagation of destructive and anti-Islamic practices."
Journalist Incarceration Stats
- In 2013 Iran ranked #174 out of the 179 countries listed in regards to press freedom (Reporters Without Borders)
- 232 journalists were incarcerated in Iran in the year 2012
- 2010-there were 47 journalists imprisoned in Iran
Who's in Charge?
Well the government of course! Iran's media is state-run and speech in the Islamic Republic of Iran is heavily regulated. Most of the limits imposed on freedom of speech in Iran is grounded in the constitution and most speech restricted covers religion,immorality, social harmony and politics.
The Ministry
The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is the ministry of Culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The ministry is responsible for restricting access to any media that the Islamic Regime of Tehran does not approve. In order for importation and exportation of any form of media to pass within or outside of Iran, a license is required by Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Platform of Expression
Since the introduction of the Internet, it's been a source for citizens to express themselves and allow more means of independent media and opposition voices to be heard. The Internet has provided Iran's citizens with a viable platform to publish and write about "taboo" topics and write/express about government opposition where enforcing speech restrictions is much more difficult. Due to the availability online for government scrutiny and greater ability to convey the independent voice, there has been a large increase in government scrutiny. The public finds the Internet as a platform to speak freely and has brought a right to human right activists, bloggers, and online media outlets, and with the rising of the Internet platform for the freedom of speech, the Internet has no become a target of government regulatory action and many people are subject to arrest, imprisonment, and torture. Internet control mechanisms has exponentially grown over the past several years to address the digital challenge to information control in Iran. Government has been investing in much more sophisticated technical control mechanisms and even new regulatory agencies have been created to identify and block expression deemed offensive.