ارشاد

Iranian publishers must submit each manuscript for pre-publication review. Reviewers (mâmurân-e momayezi) demand cuts: a sex scene, a political reference, a critical line about clerical figures, a phrase that "promotes" alcohol or unmarried relationships. A book can wait one to five years for a permit; many wait forever. Films require a script permit before shooting and a screening permit before release. Music permits are issued only to performers and lyrics the ministry approves. No female solo singer has been issued a public-performance permit since 1979 (women may only perform as part of a chorus, or for women-only audiences). Music videos with women dancing are routinely banned. The ministry also bars books critical of the Islamic Republic from international book fairs Iran participates in.