Iran: Information on an opposition newspaper called "Avay Rahi", and on the treatment by the authorities of people who do caricatures or cartoons of mullahs and political leaders
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN31195.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information on an opposition newspaper called "Avay Rahi", and on the treatment by the authorities of people who do caricatures or cartoons of mullahs and political leaders, 1 February 1999, IRN31195.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abcd18.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during two 9 February 1999 telephone interviews with specialists in Iranian media.
The two specialists have never heard of a newspaper or magazine called "Avay Rahi" or "Ava-ye Rahi".
The two specialists indicated that they have never come across a cartoon or caricature of a mullah or a political leader produced inside Iran. They added that no one in Iran would dare produce a cartoon or a caricature of a mullah or political leader, nor would anyone publish it. The specialists indicated that anyone caught with such cartoons or caricatures would face serious problems inside Iran.
One of the specialist, the Director of CAIS stated that he finds this situation to be improbable since there are safer ways to express one's political opinion.
The two specialists are: the Director of the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies (CAIS) who is also the editor of a newsletter on Iran called Al-Moujez (Iran Briefing), and who is also a source for information on Iran for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) regarding Iranian media; a Chargé de cours at the Université de Paris II who teaches a course on Iranian media and who is a former journalist in Iran.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Chargé de cours at the Université de Paris II and former journalist in Iran, , Paris, France. 9 February 1999. Telephone interview.
Director, Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies and the editor of Al-Moujez (Iran Briefing), London, England. 9 February 1999. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic source: Internet (Websites on Iranian media)
The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses: 1995-1996.
World Media Handbook: Selected Country Profiles. 1990
