Rooz has conducted an interview with journalist and sociologist Hossein Ghazian about the recent crack down on reformist and independent publications. Ghazian believes, "You can always find cracks to breathe through… but when even these little cracks are shut, society then enters a radical and frightening waiting period." Below is an excerpt of this interview.
Rooz (R): What effects does the suppression of the press have on society, journalists, and those in power? What is the regime pursuing by shutting down a monthly like Zanan, which was recently shut down after 16 years of publication?
Hossein Ghazian (HG): That a publication like Zanan was able to last for 16 years shows that suppression, however sever, is never and can never be total and complete. You can always find cracks to breathe through. The important thing is to learn how to best use the limited space that the sociopolitical geography of life affords us. But when even these little cracks are shut, society enters a radical and frightening waiting period, which can have very dangerous implications for the future. Those in power are simple-mindedly happy that they have taken care of another disturbing publication and conquered another one of the enemy's nests. What they are not aware of is that although they have sprinkled dusts of despair on various groups, but they have deprived themselves from civil society's mild, constructive criticism. The day that society begins to protest, the protests will no longer be mild.
R: In your opinion, for what purpose did the government suspend Zanan? What are the roots of such worries, and how realistic are they?
HG: First of all, in my opinion, which runs contrary to the conventional wisdom, the root of these worries is less political (meaning daily political issues). I don't even think that the proximity of upcoming elections played a direct role in Zanan's suspension. Generally, Zanan's articles did not deal with politics and were not directly threatening, but pointed to issues that were root causes of many ills. In other words, Zanan was targeting the general condition of Iranian society of which the particular government was just one manifestation.
R: In your opinion, is it possible that publications such as Zanan are allowed to resume publication under pressure from more moderate elements in the government?
HG: In my opinion, in the regime's current power structure, moderates like those you are referring to do not have enough power to put up a slightest bit of resistance to the regime's doings.
