News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinewar-on-terroriraniran-radicalizing — Viewing Item


Ealges songs regularly on iran broadcasts

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/19/D8EJG5V80.html

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/19/D8EJG5V80.html

Iran's President Bans Western Music
Dec 19 1:59 PM US/Eastern

By NASSER KARIMI

Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton's "Rush" and the Eagles' "Hotel California" have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

But the official IRAN Persian daily reported Monday that Ahmadinejad, as head of Iran's Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, ordered the enactment of an October ruling by the council to ban Western music.

"Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," according to a statement on the council's official Web site.

Ahmadinejad's order means the IRIB must execute the decree and prepare a report on its implementation within six months, according to the newspaper.

"This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, whose music was played occasionally on state radio and TV. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience."

Music was outlawed as un-Islamic by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini soon after the revolution. But as the fervor of the revolution started to fade, light classical music was allowed on radio and television. Some public concerts reappeared in the late 1980s.

Western music, films and clothing are widely available in Iran, and hip-hop can be heard on Tehran's streets, blaring from car speakers or from music shops. Bootleg videos and DVDs of films banned by the state are widely available in the black market.

Following eight years of reformist-led rule in Iran, Ahmadinejad won office in August on a platform of reverting to ultraconservative principles promoted by the revolution.

Since then, Ahmadinejad has jettisoned Iran's moderation in foreign policy and pursued a purge in the government, replacing pragmatic veterans with former military commanders and inexperienced religious hard-liners.

He also has issued stinging criticisms of Israel, called for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map" and described the Nazi Holocaust as a "myth."

International concerns are high over Iran's nuclear program, with the United States accusing Tehran of pursuing an atomic weapons program. Iran denies the claims.

During his presidential campaign, Ahmadinejad also promised to confront what he called the Western cultural invasion and promote Islamic values.

The latest media ban also includes censorship of content of films.

"Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence," the council said in a statement on its Web site explaining its October ruling.

The council has also issued a ban on foreign movies that promote "arrogant powers," an apparent reference to the United States.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.



American gestures to iran causes repression of freedom { March 23 2006 }
Britain begins threatening iran { October 6 2005 }
Bush eases on iran policy
Cia says iran elections portend new era of repression { February 25 2004 }
Cleric warns of iran topple { June 3 2002 }
Data is lacking on iran arms { March 9 2005 }
Ealges songs regularly on iran broadcasts
EU warns iran possible UN sanctions { March 11 2005 }
General electric halts new business in iran
General says iran war plans routine { February 10 2005 }
Hardliners reformists both claim victory in iran elections { February 21 2004 }
Iran and iraq shiites unite against iraqi sunnis { August 21 2005 }
Iran calls blast scare psychological warfare from US
Iran cracks down on womens dress
Iran defends planned holocaust conference
Iran says europe should take back jews
Iran students disrupt ahmadinejad speech { November 2006 }
Iranian student protesters hiding in fear { December 18 2006 }
One third iran parliament members resign
Pentagon analyst aggresive on iran convincted for espionage { January 20 2006 }
Prewar iraq intelligence predicted iran benefits { May 23 2007 }
Senator says bush created stronger iran { January 2007 }
Top dissident cleric critcizes president ahmadinejad
US doesnt want to resolve issues with iran
US funding undermines progressives in iran { October 11 2007 }
US funds iran opposition { March 4 2005 }
US pressure radicalized iran { April 3 2007 }
Western bluster helped hardliner take power { April 3 2007 }

Files Listed: 28



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple