Writers Association condemns growing censorship in Iran

Tehran International Book Exhibition

Iranian Writers Association condemned the “growing pressure on independent publishers” and warned against “the increasing trend of censorship and cultural oppression” in the Islamic Republic.

The announcement states: “This year at the Book Exhibition, organizers not only created an atmosphere of fear by deploying censorship and undercover agents, but also stepped beyond these measures and in an unprecedented move revoked the permits of a number of independent publishers and summoned them to security offices.”

The 23rd International Book Exhibition opened in Tehran on Tuesday, May 4.

It is also reported that the books of dissident clerics such as the late Ayatollah HoseinAli Montazeri as well as Ayatollah Sanei have been removed from the exhibition.

Khabar online reports that exhibition organizers have collected all Ayatollah Sanei books from the exhibition and are keeping them in the Exhibition’s offices at Tehran’s Mosala.

Ayatollah Sanei’s latest book which was published through the Institute for the Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini Works has not been allowed to gain entry into the exhibition.

In addition, books of Ayatollah Montazeri were also removed from the Exhibition. All these books have publication permits from the Ministry of Culture.

Both Ayatollahs Montazeri and Sanei supported the protests of the 2009 elections and condemned the government’s violent crackdown on protesters in Iran’s most recent political turmoil.

Ayatollah Beheshti Publications was also impeded from setting up its usual stall in the Exhibition.

The recent protests have caused a deep rift within the Iranian clergy and Ahamdinejad’s government is intent on stopping the pro-opposition clerics from lending their voice to the opposition.