Publishing industry, under the oxygen mask; conversation with Hassan Kiaian, manager of Cheshme publishing/ Matin Mostafaei

The circulation of books in the country is decreasing and bookstores are going bankrupt or changing their profession. Newspapers and written media in Iran have also been struggling to survive for several years. Sometimes they have not published one or two issues for various reasons, or have reduced the number of pages. At times, they […]...

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Publication Manager of Baztab Negar: Censorship in the book industry is more prevalent than in other fields / Ali Kalaii.

“We are both private and bear the burden of government surveillance. This is a statement from a publisher who has been active in the field of publishing for years. According to him, the publishing industry, specifically independent publishing in Iran, does not receive government subsidies or financial aid, but is heavily controlled by the government […]...

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A few brief reflections on the crises of books in Iran / Reza Najafi

Book and reading in Iran are facing multiple crises because, on one hand, they are inheriting global problems such as the decline of the book market due to the emergence of powerful competitors like cinema, television, virtual space, and various computer games, as well as new media such as audio works, and on the other […]...

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“Return to the book, the true book!/ Saeed Barabadi”

The file of reading books by people around the world, especially Iranians, has changed significantly due to the coronavirus and long-term quarantines afterwards. However, in order to better understand this change, we must consider and accept the new types of reading in statistics, and acknowledge that all audio and visual products that are currently being […]...

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Critical Thinking/ Sayed Mohammad Safi

My colleagues from “Peace Line” have asked me to share some points with our esteemed readers about the role of literature in fostering critical thinking and to encourage those interested to explore this necessary matter. How can accessing and researching the ancient literary roots of our culture contribute to the expansion and development of “critical […]...

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Censorship of books with semi-legal tools / Ehsan Haghi

A book is considered one of the most important tools for the transmission and dissemination of ideas. Therefore, one of the important measures of freedom of expression in a society is the freedom of individuals to express their thoughts and beliefs in the form of a book. Like all human rights and freedoms, freedom of […]...

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If “City of Books” becomes the world of books/ Hermoz Sharifian

The position and culture of reading books in Iran is so esteemed and respected that parents and teachers in schools, from the very first years of education, introduce books as humans’ best friend and encourage children to read, and of course, they still do so. Of course, verbal encouragement alone is not enough to establish […]...

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Our culture and its relationship with democracy / Majid Shia Ali

You have probably encountered views that suggest democracy requires cultural prerequisites and that society lacks these prerequisites culturally. To justify this view, various comparisons are made to belittle Iranian society compared to developed countries. From driving in heavy city traffic compared to driving conditions in Northern European countries, to the proposal of a per capita […]...

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Non-compliance with international copyright laws and its impact on book publishing in Iran / Abdullah Bai Lashki

Iran, known for its rich literary heritage and ancient tradition of intellectualism, has served as a vibrant hub for writers, publishers, and literature enthusiasts for centuries. In a space where poetry, prose, and scientific works thrive, Iranian literary contributions both within and outside of the country have had a lasting impact. However, the emergence of […]...

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Censorship, Reality, and Myths / Ahmad Faal

If we interpret myths as a desire for control and domination over reality, it may not be an exaggeration to say that most of us humans have a tendency towards myth-making. Our beliefs and convictions are a form of myth-making about real matters. The theories that arise in the humanities or even in technical and […]...

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The emergence of storytelling and the art of soil/ Morteza Hamounian

They tell us a story and want us to believe it as they have said it. Speech is the one that prevails, and its assumption is that no one questions the victor. They make their own narrative, define their own history, and with the reinterpretation of everything, they also appropriate concepts for their own benefit. […]...

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A look at the pen against the sword of censorship / Arash Chakari

Censorship, subjective monitoring in cultural affairs, removal of artistic content through legal and illegal means, forced revision and rewriting, imposition of cultural preferences on the content of works, threats and intimidation, and countless other words and lines can be considered as subsets of this word: “censorship”; which is another name for all the lines above. […]...

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