Senior Advisor To Khamenei Alireza Panahian: Newspapers That Engage In 'Polarization' Should Be Shut Down, Even If They Are Government Funded

Alireza Panahian, head of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's academic think tank urged in an address uploaded to EtemadOnline.com (Iran) on September 4, 2024 the Majles speaker to enact regulations to tackle "polarization" in the media. He said that newspapers that engage in polarization should be shut down, whether they are state funded or belong to the opposition. Panahian said that publishing false information in newspapers is wrong, but engaging in polarization is worse, because it leads to despair in society. He spoke at a lecture attended by the Majles speaker.

Alireza Panahian: "I implore the speaker of the Islamic Iranian Majles to enact regulations regarding polarization in the media. It appears as if this abomination has become the norm. Newspapers that are sponsored by the government, like Keyhan, Etealat, and Jomhuri Eslami, as well as any newspaper that claims to be in opposition to the Islamic Republic, a thing that does not really exist...

"They have no right to engage in polarizing games – to criticize only because they are in the opposition. They should shut down such newspapers. Just because they belong to this or that political wing... God knows that these are filthy methods.

"This has to be changed. Publishing false information in a newspaper is wrong and leads to prosecution. I tell you, as much as publishing false information is wrong, polarizing is a bigger offense. Polarization blocks candid discussion. It also leads to despair in our society."