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1. Iran’s Media and Internet
Censorship Policies
A look at how Iran’s censorship policies will affect its re-emergence into the
global economy
Chafica M. Khodr Agha
Cross Cultural Communication Policy

2. Policy Documents
• In my paper I focused on two key documents:
• Iran’s Computer Crimes Act
• The Articles of Association Statute, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)

3. Iran’s IRIB Policy
• The General Policies and Principles of the Programs of the Organization IRIB (Islamic
Republic of Iran Broadcasting) is a law that was ratified by the Council of
Guardians in 1982
• The document has 65 articles, which cover all aspects of the media ranging from
cultural and social programs to military and politically related media materials.
Though it is directed towards the IRIB, a state owned broadcasting entity; it outlines
general rules and principles for all media entities in the country.
• Despite having a detailed body of provisions in the doctrine, many of the Articles
are vague and general which seems almost convenient for the Iranian government
because it gives a broad amount of room for interpretation of what the scope of
the articles include.

4. Iran’s Computer Crimes Act
• The Computer Crimes Act also has very general provisions that leave
substantial room for the government and cyber police to interpret policies as
they see fit.
• The requisite elements to constitute as an offense are often described with
ambiguity and broadened terms which makes it difficult for private persons
as well as corporate entities to decipher what forms of speech or even
marketing would go against the “public morality and chastity” that the legal
provisions include.

5. How will these policies affect Iran
economically?
• The price of oil has decreased nearly 75% however, from nearly $115 a barrel to a
record low of below $27
• In anticipation of Iran’s possible attempt to sell oil at below market values, the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun to pump out its mega fields at record levels in
an attempt to undermine Iran.
• Iran’s ability to maintain sustainable growth in its economy must come from its non-
oil sectors, which will require a complete “reorientation” of the Iranian economy
that can open up to international trade, foreign investments, and “unleash
entrepreneurial forces that can spur investment, lift productivity, provide jobs, and
raise living standards”

6. 30 Years of Economic Sanctions on Iran

7. Iran and the International Oil Market

8. Iran Policies and Cultural Spaces
• In 2011 the Small Media Foundation published a report entitled Cultural
Censorship in Iran. The report gave substantial insight into the ramifications
of Iran’s current censorship policies in the media and Internet and how
those policies are eradicating cultural spaces including literature, music, and
other forms of expression.
• Though these cultural spaces may seem unrelated, they are intrinsically linked
to the ability for Iran’s economy to stabilize, as they are some of the most
fundamental aspects of a society’s ability to develop.

9. Three of the many filmmakers and musicians
who have been jailed and tortured..

10. Continued…
• Through the implementation of IRIB and other similar forms of legislation, the
government has the power to “[crack] down harshly against artists and publishers
when it believes an act of subversion has occurred”.
• According to the same study, literature are and films deemed to be incompatible
with the objectives of Islamic teachings, are often removed from bookstores and in
some cases result in the bookstores as well as cinemas being shut down simply for
distributing the product.
• Iranian artists and film makers then face a range of slanderous accusations as well
as criminal charges which in turn discourages other Iranians from pursuing these
forms of expression in fear of the consequences.

11. What needs to be done?
• Given the state of Iran’s economy and the oil market it is clear that the need for
Iran to diversify its economy is imperative now more than ever.
• However, the economy cannot be developed in conformity with Shiite Islamic
ideologies as it severely confines and slows the economic growth potential
• The government must make significant changes to its legislation as well as the
manner in which it enforces those legislations
• Freedom of access to information and to distribute ideas/art is also an essential
aspect in diversifying the Iranian economy