Propaganda in The Islamic Republic of Iran
Encyclopedia
Propaganda
in The Islamic Republic of Iran
originates from the Iranian regime and "private" entities, which are usually state controlled. Garth Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell have provided a concise, workable definition of propaganda
: "Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." Propaganda can be disseminated through any medium, television, film, newspaper, posters, murals, political actions, rallies, violence, and websites. Propaganda
in The Islamic Republic of Iran
is also about the information that is not broadcast to the masses due to censorship
.
Information can be a powerful weapon. Like any other weapon
, the use of this information can be used for constructive or destructive purposes. Within Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei
knows and understands this concept as those who try to speak truth to power, or use information in a way that is critical of the Iranian Regime, are in most cases, silenced. The Iranian regime uses information as a means to control the population of Iran through various methods and mediums. Jailing journalists, physically removing satellite dishes from the roof's of its citizens, and producing and the messages and programming its citizens consume occurs on a daily basis within Iran.
The flags of nations are considered propaganda. Not only is the flag itself a representation of propaganda
, but the flags of other nations, such as the Untied States and Israel, are used in Iranian Propaganda. Burning of the U.S. flag and Israeli Flag seem to occur at rallies against each. Flag burning is a propaganda tool, such as burning Effigies
of world leaders.
Materials=
"*A news piece about the International Holocaust Cartoon Competition during the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust
is reported on, by Elham Gouran from IRINN
, in which she reports that "many Christians were burned [in the past] because they refused to renounce Christianity and become Jews." She also reports, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that the killing of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust is a myth.
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
in The Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
originates from the Iranian regime and "private" entities, which are usually state controlled. Garth Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell have provided a concise, workable definition of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
: "Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." Propaganda can be disseminated through any medium, television, film, newspaper, posters, murals, political actions, rallies, violence, and websites. Propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
in The Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
is also about the information that is not broadcast to the masses due to censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
.
Information can be a powerful weapon. Like any other weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
, the use of this information can be used for constructive or destructive purposes. Within Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
knows and understands this concept as those who try to speak truth to power, or use information in a way that is critical of the Iranian Regime, are in most cases, silenced. The Iranian regime uses information as a means to control the population of Iran through various methods and mediums. Jailing journalists, physically removing satellite dishes from the roof's of its citizens, and producing and the messages and programming its citizens consume occurs on a daily basis within Iran.
Censorship in Iran
- One of the biggest issues Iran is criticized for is censorship. Aided by Western technology from NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
and SiemensSiemensSiemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
, the Iranian Regime has created one of the most sophisticated censorship platforms created in modern times. Not only is this practice unethical but it violates Iranian citizen's Freedom of SpeechFreedom of speechFreedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
which is a Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
. The Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
matters because the declaration was adopted by the United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, of which The Islamic Republic of Iran is a member.
Historical Revisionism
- Historical RevisionismHistorical revisionismIn historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
in The Islamic Republic of IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
is used to make the past of the regime look more favorable to Iranian citizens and the rest of the world. A primary example of this is Holocaust DenialHolocaust denialHolocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
. - The use of World events which Iran can then compare itself too in order to look better.
- Iran used the Riots in Britain to denounce the British for Human Rights violoations and offered to send an investigative team to find out what happened. The riots in Britain occured after the Iranian Green Movement was brutally oppressed in 2009, which tried to erase the memory of Death of Neda Agha-SoltanDeath of Neda Agha-SoltanFootage of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan drew international attention after she was killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet and the video became a rallying point for the opposition...
.
Symbolism
Flag
The flags of nations are considered propaganda. Not only is the flag itself a representation of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, but the flags of other nations, such as the Untied States and Israel, are used in Iranian Propaganda. Burning of the U.S. flag and Israeli Flag seem to occur at rallies against each. Flag burning is a propaganda tool, such as burning Effigies
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
of world leaders.
Violence/Fear
- Through public executions, violent crackdowns on protests, and the kidnapping of Iranian citizens, both at home and abroad, the Iranian Regime hopes to to shape the political will of its citizens. With artists, film-makers, musicians, political activists, former politicians, and minority persecution, the UN human rights body has expressed its concern over Human rights in the Islamic Republic of IranHuman rights in the Islamic Republic of IranThe state of human rights in Iran has been criticized both by Iranians and international human right activists, writers, and NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission have condemned prior and ongoing abuses in Iran in published critiques and several resolutions.The...
. It is the hope of
- On October 8, 2006, cleric Seyyed Hossein Kazemeini BoroujerdiHossein Kazemeyni BoroujerdiAyatollah Seyyed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi is an Iranian Shia Muslim cleric who advocates the separation of religion and government and has been imprisoned several times by the Iranian government....
was arrested for opposing Velaayat-e Faghih, advocating the separation of religion from state, and defending the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By censoring, and jailing all dissidents, the Iranian Regime promotes what it feels to be the correct ideology over the people. It then propagandizes the arrests, calling political prisoners enemies of the state, which strikes fear into the population of Iran. This creates a situation where the population can live in fear, or lash out, like it did after the 2009 Iranian Presidential electionIranian presidential election, 2009Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election...
.
Political
- Political messages are printed, painted, and distributed in all forms in Iran. Not running up to elections, but in murals or large posters, this type of propaganda can have the big brotherBig BrotherBig Brother may refer to:* Big Brother , a character from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four** Authoritarian personality, any omnipresent figure representing oppressive control...
effect.
Judicial_system_of_Iran|Iranian Justice System
- Iranian Justice SystemJudicial system of IranA nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza Shah, with further changes during the second Pahlavi era....
has also been known to espouse propaganda. This is especially true in the prison system of Iran where Political prisoners were "incessantly bombarded with propaganda from all sides ... radio and closed-circuit television ... loudspeakers blaring into all cells even into solitary cells and `the coffins` [where some prisoners were kept] ... ideological sessions." Any reading material of a secular nature such as Western novelists, or even religious material that didn't agree ideologically with the Islamic Republic such as work by Ali ShariatiAli ShariatiAli Shariati was an Iranian revolutionary and sociologist, who focused on the sociology of religion. He is held as one of the most influential Iranian intellectuals of the 20th century and has been called the 'ideologue of the Iranian Revolution'.-Biography:Ali....
was banned.
The Basij
- The BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
are the local and grassroot supporters of the Iranian government. "The mission of the BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
as a whole can be broadly defined as helping to maintain law and order; enforcing ideological and Islamic values and combating the "Western cultural onslaught"; assisting the IRGC in defending the country against foreign threats; and involvement in state-run economic projects." The BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
are groomed from a young age to love and respect the government, often being rewarded for their loyalty. They act as the secret police of the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the KGBKGBThe KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
did, and now the FSBFSBFSB may refer to:in business and economics:* Financial Stability Board, an international group of financial authorities* Swedbank, a retail banking group* Fuqua School of Business, a business school...
does. Within the police statePolice stateA police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
of IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
create intelligence networks of citizens to spy on one another, monitor online conversations, cell phone conversations, and frequently target intellectuals, journalists, opposition leaders and political organizers. The BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
are similar to the way Hitler YouthHitler YouthThe Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
were cultivated, and ultimately entered into the ranks of the NAZI's, except that the BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
also have their own organization for multiple age groups and its participants can hold other jobs, being called upon by the secret police forces when it deems necessary.
- With the IRGC's help and support, BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
members are trained in propaganda and political warfare techniques using media outlets. There are about 21,000 volunteer "reporters" that have trained with the IRGC on multiple waves of communication and media, which include social networks, television, radio, print media, and the internet.
- According to Reporters Without BordersReporters Without BordersReporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
, "In Iran, the Revolutionary Guards recently announced their ambition to build their own spinternet by launching 10,000 blogs for the Basij, a paramilitary force under the Guards. This comes at a time when the Internet has become a major force in exposing corruption in the highest ranks of the Iranian leadership." As well, cyber-police "are here to create a cyber police force inside the people’s mind,” said Hesamedin Mojtahed, the officer in charge of the booth. “People want to be informed of the dangers on the Internet,” he said. “We are here for them.”
SAVAK
- The SAVAKSAVAKSAVAK was the secret police, domestic security and intelligence service established by Iran's Mohammad Reza Shah on the recommendation of the British Government and with the help of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency SAVAK (Persian: ساواک, short for سازمان اطلاعات و امنیت کشور...
was the National Intelligence and Security Organization of Iran from 1961 until 1979. They were the official secret policeSecret policeSecret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
, domestic security and intelligence service established by IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's Mohammad Reza Shah. After Khomeini took over, SAVAK was dissolved and replaced with SAVAMA - SAVAKSAVAKSAVAK was the secret police, domestic security and intelligence service established by Iran's Mohammad Reza Shah on the recommendation of the British Government and with the help of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency SAVAK (Persian: ساواک, short for سازمان اطلاعات و امنیت کشور...
had it's own censorship office, "established to monitor journalists, literary figures, and academics throughout the country; it took appropriate measures against those who fell out of line. Universities, labor unions, and peasant organizations, among others, were all subjected to intense surveillance by SAVAK agents and paid informants. The agency was also active abroad, especially in monitoring Iranian students who publicly opposed Pahlavi rule."
SAVAMA/VEVAK
- SAVAMA is the original name for the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran (MISIRI). While it goes by other names, it operates in the same manner. It closely monitors and puts surveillance on those it deems a threat to the Iranian regime, both at home and abroad.
Military
- The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, a special unit within the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of IranMilitary of IranThe Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran include the IRIA and the IRGC and the Police Force .These forces total about 545,000 active personnel . All branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces...
has practiced for Psychological Operations against military targets. According to Ayatollah Khamenei, "the main priority of the country is to confront (enemy's) soft warfare which is aimed at creating doubt, discord and pessimism among the masses of the people," Ayatollah Khamenei said last year, addressing a large and fervent congregation of Basij (volunteer) forces."
- A video depicting a military parade for Ayatollah Khameini depicts the United States and Israel as the enemy. The use of the swastikaSwastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
to depict an imperialist power, like the Nazi's is used in conjunction with "U.S" and a Star of DavidStar of DavidThe Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
. Through the performance, missiles break apart the U.S. symbol and Star of David, as well as turn into a Kalishnakov rifle which fires upon the enemy.
Materials=
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Cylinder#Mesopotamian_and_Persian_tradition_and_propaganda (Find somehwere this can go)
- The Iranian Regime utilizes every form of propagandaPropagandaPropaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
possible in combination with censorshipCensorshipthumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
in order to achieve its political objectives.
- The Iranian Regime utilizes every form of propaganda
Media
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
- Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is the sole, official provider, of broadcast newsNewsNews is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
to both the Iranian people and the rest of the world. IRIB operates many channels in a multitude of languages and is known to broadcast propagandaPropagandaPropaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. IRIB is the main hub for which all Iranian propaganda is created, and disseminated, throughout the world. The multiple channels that make up IRIB all have a specific purpose.- On every IRIB channel, Israel is referred to as the "Zionist Regime".
Press TV
- Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
is known to be a propaganda station for The Islamic Republic of IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. In an interview which featured a BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
representative and a Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
, the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
representative discusses how Press TV is a propaganda organ of the Islamic Republic of Iran.; - Another example shows an Iranian "protester" give a confession to being a member of the People's Mujahedin of IranPeople's Mujahedin of IranThe People's Mujahedin of Iran is a terrorist militant organization that advocates the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran....
and causing dissent on the streets of Tehran. - Most of the programming on Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
has a PBS type quality to it, except for the segment from Washington, D.C.. The station claims to be on par with CNN and the BBC in it's impartial reporting but that is not the case.
IRINN
"*A news piece about the International Holocaust Cartoon Competition during the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust
International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust
The International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust was a two-day conference that opened on December 11, 2006, in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the conference sought "neither to deny nor prove the Holocaust.....
is reported on, by Elham Gouran from IRINN
IRINN
IRINN stands for Islamic Republic of Iran News Network and is a full news channel, part of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting corporation, headquartered in the Jame Jam Park in Tehran, Iran. The main programs are political, but sports, science and medical news programs also exist...
, in which she reports that "many Christians were burned [in the past] because they refused to renounce Christianity and become Jews." She also reports, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that the killing of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust is a myth.
Posters / Murals
Cinema
- A propaganda video, with the English translated title of "The Coming is Upon Us - Israel Shall be Destroyed", with 30 minutes translated by author Reza Kahlili. The "purpose of the project was to inform Muslims across the globe of the immediate coming of the last Islamic messiah. The Iranian leaders, now more than ever, feel that all the stars are aligned for such event. The film also talks about how the MahdiMahdiIn Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for seven, nine or nineteen years- before the Day of Judgment and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.In Shia Islam, the belief in the Mahdi is a "central religious...
or 12'th Imam will return to fulfill his role on Earth.
Conferences and Lectures
- Ahmadinejad's visit to Cornell was exclusively for propaganda purposes. Ahmadinejad firmly believes he can convince global opinion and the American people of the rightness of his cause .
- Through the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the HolocaustInternational Conference to Review the Global Vision of the HolocaustThe International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust was a two-day conference that opened on December 11, 2006, in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the conference sought "neither to deny nor prove the Holocaust.....
, the Iranian regime pushed its agenda of Holocaust DenialHolocaust denialHolocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
to a global scale. The conference attracted known white supremacists, those who deny the Holocaust even occurred, and denied permission to the one Israeli who was invited to attend. This type of conference is a prime example of Historical revisionism (negationism)Historical revisionism (negationism)Historical revisionism is either the legitimate scholastic re-examination of existing knowledge about a historical event, or the illegitimate distortion of the historical record such that certain events appear in a more or less favourable light. For the former, i.e. the academic pursuit, see...
- The Islamic Republic of Iran held an anti-terrorism conference which featured representatives from "neighboring countries Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan as well as Sudan, Tajikistan, Mauritania and the Vice-President of Cuba and Ministers and other high-level delegates from 60 States, representatives of the United Nations (Officer in Charge of CTITF), the OIC, and other regional organizations as well as distinguished scholars and researchers and peace activists from all around the world participated in the Conference." With Iran being a state-sponsor of terrorist activities, and many of the nations in attendance, including many of the African representatives, users of terrorism, the anti-terrorism conference is propaganda.. It was quite successful as well because the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
endorsed the meeting and sent a delegation to partake in the event. During the event, "Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei took the opportunity to excoriate western nations for "terrorist behaviors," and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed his doubts about the September 2001 terrorist attacks on America – outrageously claiming that the U.S has benefited from those attacks, as it has, he added, from the Holocaust."
Internet
- There are numerous State Sponsored websites which are considered the official mouthpieces of the IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
|Islamic Republic of Iran]]'s government. These are examples of political propaganda, which either put a pro-Shah, pro-Government, pro-IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian, Spin (public relations)Spin-In mathematics, science and technology:* Electron magnetic dipole moment* Rotation or spin, a movement of an object in a circular motion* Social Phobia Inventory, abbreviated as SPIN, a psychological test of social anxiety disorder....
on neutral material. The following websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s also place Spin (public relations)Spin-In mathematics, science and technology:* Electron magnetic dipole moment* Rotation or spin, a movement of an object in a circular motion* Social Phobia Inventory, abbreviated as SPIN, a psychological test of social anxiety disorder....
or omit/censorCensorCensor may refer to:*Censorship, the control of speech and other forms of human expression*Roman censor, a magistrate for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, etc*Cato Censor , Roman statesman...
any negative reporting on the Iranian regime, and promote the Iranian leadership's point of view on specific issues. They include:
- www.kayhannews.ir - news from Ali KhameneiAli KhameneiAyatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
- www.rajanews.com - news from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
- www.irna.ir - website of the Islamic Republic News AgencyIslamic Republic News AgencyThe Islamic Republic News Agency , or IRNA, is the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is government-funded and controlled under the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The agency also publishes the newspaper Iran. , the Managing Director of IRNA is Ali Akbar...
- www.iribnews.ir - website of Islamic Republic of Iran BroadcastingIslamic Republic of Iran BroadcastingIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster, or IRIB, , formerly called the National Iranian Radio and Television until the Islamic revolution of 1979, is a giant Iranian corporation in control of radio and television which is among the largest media organizations in Asia and Pacific region, and a regular...
- www.presstv.ir - website of Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
- http://english.farsnews.com/ - Website of Fars News AgencyFars News AgencyFars News Agency is a news agency in Iran. While it describes itself as "Iran's leading independent news agency", news organizations such as CNN and Reuters describe it as a "semi-official" news agency with ties to the government...
- Every website listed contains examples of Iranian Regime propaganda, if not completely created as propaganda from the start.
Cyber Police
- Iran has created a Cyber Police unit because "Iranian officials say they must control which sites Iranians are able to visit, to prevent spying and protect the public from “immoral” material. The United States, they charge, is waging a “soft war” against Iran by reaching out to Iranians online and inciting them to overthrow their leaders. From the Iranian Regime's standpoint, any free information is a threat to power. For this reason, the Cyber Police were created. The internet was a major factor for organizing and showing the world what was happening during the 2009 presidential election. The United States asked TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
to postpone online maintenance in 2009 so that it would be available for Iranian protesters.
-
-
- The cyber police fall under the IRGC and the BasijBasijThe Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
.
- The cyber police fall under the IRGC and the Basij
-
Currency
- Iranian rialIranian rialThe rial is the currency of Iran. It is subdivided into 100 dinar but, because of the very low current value of the rial, no fraction of the rial is used in accounting....
. Link this to the section in the regular propaganda page, specifically about the curencies and the history of rulers putting their faces on them. - While currency seems a mundane form of propaganda, it has been used in the past to promote leaders, like the Iranian rialIranian rialThe rial is the currency of Iran. It is subdivided into 100 dinar but, because of the very low current value of the rial, no fraction of the rial is used in accounting....
does with the Supreme Leader of IranSupreme Leader of IranThe Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
. This is especially powerful when the money is used internationally. Anoushiravan Ehteshami, a professor of international relations at Britain’s University of Durham, says southern Iraq is the only place outside of Iran where Iranian currency—the rial—is used.
Voice of America
- The Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
's Persian Service has come under scrutiny for following a pro-TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
line. The controversy started with the Death of Neda Agha-SoltanDeath of Neda Agha-SoltanFootage of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan drew international attention after she was killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet and the video became a rallying point for the opposition...
(which has its own propaganda implications). VOA and their parent organization, Broadcasting Board of GovernorsBroadcasting Board of GovernorsThe Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S government. It was previously a department within the United States Information Agency until 1999.-Origins:Starting in...
, were very slow in reporting the events of the 2009 Iranian elections and subsequent student protests. With upwards of 80% of the Iranian population getting its information from official government news agencies like IRNA, the VOA is supposed to report non-censored material or propaganda from the Iranian regime. In Congressional testimony, it was shown that the VOA Persian network was broadcasting anti-American messages regularly and was being abused by the Persian networks staff to include: -Boycotting and even slandering people [VOA Staff] do not agree with, -Inadequate or late coverage of protests in Iran and complete lack of support for the freedom fighters (referring to the Death of Neda Agha-SoltanDeath of Neda Agha-SoltanFootage of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan drew international attention after she was killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet and the video became a rallying point for the opposition...
, - Not supporting and criticizing the US Policy, - and the list continues.
Iran Lobby in the United States
- The Iran lobby in the United StatesIran lobby in the United StatesThe Iran lobby is used to describe the coalition of organizations that seek and have sought to influence the foreign policy of the United States toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.- History :...
is concerned with defending the Iranian Regime's image in the United States. By its nature, lobbyingLobbyingLobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
can be considered propaganda. As Lopez has written, "A complex network of individuals and organizations with ties to the clerical regime in Tehran is pressing forward in seeming synchrony to influence the new U.S. administration’s policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Spearheaded by a de facto partnership between the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other organizations serving as mouthpieces for the mullahs’ party line, the network includes well-known American diplomats, congressional representatives, figures from academia and the think tank world."
Israel
- Through Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
, Iran places agent of influenceAgent of influenceAn agent of influence is a person whose political actions and arguments are alleged to serve the interests of a foreign power, and to be directed or manipulated by the intelligence agency of that power...
throughout the world, which is what has occurred in Israel.
Kurdish People / PKK
- A Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
propaganda piece explains how the Kurdish PeopleKurdish peopleThe Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
are disrupting life in Iran. It calls the PJAK terrorists and claims that the PKK/Kurdish Workers Party for blowing up gas pipelines. The video also claims that the PKK has killed multiple innocent Iranian civilians, enters cities and steals children, rapes women, and kills the men of towns and villages. Everyone interviewed in the video squarely blames PJAK for their problems. While all of these accusations may be absolutely true, the video is still propaganda because it is not impartial. The Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
video enforces the Iranian Regime's ideals about the Kurdish people and interviews "middle east expert" William O. Beeman, who seems to have pro-Islamic Republic of Iran views. Regardless of Beeman's political views, the propaganda piece quotes the "middle east expert" on the topic of why "PJAK and the PKK have different names" and describes how PJAK is receiving covert funding from the United States. The Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
commentator proceeds to describe how PJAK and the PKK are waging war with Iran, on behalf of Washington and Tel-Aviv. The video is clearly anti-Kurdish, anti-United States, anti-Israel. Press TVPress TVPress TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
reports are supposed to present facts and be unbiased.
Nuclear Propaganda
- The Iranian Nuclear Program utilizes propagandaPropagandaPropaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
through disinformationDisinformationDisinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. For this reason, it is synonymous with and sometimes called black propaganda. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth...
. Due to the multiple nations and foreign governing bodies that have Sanctions against IranSanctions against IranThis article outlines economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U.S. government, or under U.S. pressure by the international community through the United Nations Security Council...
, Iran has had no choice but to pursue its perceived nuclear weapons program covertly. Iran has claimed that the nuclear program is peaceful, however, the most recent IAEA report highlights research that may bring the world to a different conclusion.
- The government of Iran has made serial denials about the weaponizing the atom and claims that the IAEA is controlled and biased by Western nations, especially the United States of America.
- Based on an Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
article, the re-defection of Shahram AmiriShahram AmiriShahram Amiri is an Iranian nuclear scientist who disappeared from Iran for a little over a year under disputed circumstances. In the spring of 2009, he disappeared while apparently on pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. About a year later two videos appeared, each purporting to be declarations by...
to IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
was to be used as a great propaganda campaign against the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the West. The Iranian Regime spun the news of Amiri's defection to the United States and subsequent re-defection back to Iran as a kidnapping plot. The reason's for his re-defection range in Iranian media, but most claim that he was kidnapped and/or tortured, and "escaped" back to Iran. This type of publicity is viewed in the West as a cover up, but the way it is portrayed from the Iranian standpoint, shows that a devout Iranian, who would never betray the regime, escaped the "Great Satan" to return to Iran.
- On 13 November 2011, it was reported that a major blast at a military base killed Brig. Gen. Hassan Moghaddam, along with 16 other IRGC members. "Under General Moghaddam, Iran’s missile program has tested several longer-range designs, including the Shahab-3 missile. According to intelligence estimates, the Shahab-3 is able to reach to 1,250 miles — far enough to hit Israel, Iran’s archenemy, and the Iranian government has emphasized that that is precisely the reason for its development." Iran officially claims that the explosion was an accident that occurred while moving ammunition to a more appropriate site. Speculation is that the Israeli's blew up the base but Iran has stuck to its formal explanation. Following the explosion, "...because of concerns about Israel spies — [Iran] increased the prison term for Iranian citizens who travel to Israel from three months to five years". Upon further satellite evidence released on 30 November 2011, the destruction of the military base was much greater than the Iranian Regime led on. When it comes to military matters and capabilities, this propaganda response is to be expected.