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Shahram Rafizadeh

Coinciding with the Ministry of Interior’s formal warning to publications not to criticize ‎the administration, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance ordered the press in an ‎editorial published in the state-run Iran daily to allocate more coverage to government ‎achievements.‎

Former Basij commander and the current chief of the Interior Ministry’s election ‎committee, Ali Reza Afshar referred to the press as potential national security threat and ‎said, “abusing freedom of the press during election time not only undermines political ‎parties, but also misdirects the public and threatens the country’s national security.” ‎Afshar issued an early warning to the press not to question election, claiming, “the results ‎of the election, whatever they may be, must not be questioned, because that would ‎undermine the nation’s security and interests.” ‎

Afshar, who also serves as deputy political minister at the Interior Ministry, also claimed ‎that “Western press are working to mobilize the world’s public opinion against Iran with ‎the excuse that free elections are not held in Iran.” Afshar added, “domestic press must ‎not be manipulated to protect the evil interests of Westerners and engage in their ‎unethical behavior.” ‎

In similar comments, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance accused domestic ‎journalists of undermining the government as part of a planned scenario. Mohammad ‎Hossein Saffar Harrandi, who worked as a political analyst for the Revolutionary Guards ‎prior to taking over the ministry, is also responsible of making similar accusations for ‎nearly a decade as editor-in-chief of hardliner Kayhan daily. ‎

In an editorial published in the state-run daily, Iran, Saffar Harrandi harshly attacked ‎‎“critical and independent” newspapers for failing to dedicate enough coverage to the ‎government’s recent launching of a space satellite. ‎

In the editorial, Saffar Harrandi writes, “what the scientists and committed Iranian ‎brethren displayed two days ago was truly remarkable. But how this news, with all its ‎attraction and glory, was not able to find its way to the front page of certain newspapers, ‎is a matter of deep interest.” ‎

Another official from the ministry of culture and Islamic guidance, Ali Reza Malekian, ‎insulted publications and individuals who criticize the government by saying, “the press ‎must refrain from publishing rumors and lies. Politics, as a dirty game, is for Westerners. ‎In an Islamic society, politics and economics must be conducted ethically.” ‎

Malekian accused publications that were banned during former president Khatami’s ‎administration as the “enemy’s nests,” adding, “the situation got so out of control that ‎the supreme leader had to refer to certain publications as the ‘enemy’s nests.’” ‎