TV series suspended in Iran for allegedly insulting Arab citizens

The series "Gurbet," which was being broadcast on the Iranian online streaming platform "Namava," drew backlash on social media over allegations that some episodes contained "insults directed at citizens of Arab descent" in the country.

Following the backlash, the Ministry of Interior and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Regulatory Authority for Audio-Visual Media in the Internet Space (SATRA) referred complaints regarding the series to the judiciary.

The Tehran Prosecutor's Office subsequently announced that the broadcast of the series had been suspended.

Speaking to an AA reporter on the matter, Saman Moradhosseini, head of the Iranian Audio-Visual Media Council (RESTA), stated that the Tehran Prosecutor's Office issued the suspension order because the series "Gurbet" did not have an official broadcast license.

Moradhosseini pointed out that publishers are required to apply for and obtain permission in advance for series to be broadcast on internet platforms.

Stating that they invite platforms to obtain permits to prevent such issues and the suspension of content, Moradhosseini said, "The RESTA Council supports platforms and producers in obtaining broadcast licenses from SATRA and in facilitating the licensing process."

'NO INTENTIONAL INSULTING CONTENT'

Moradhosseini noted that they have begun working to resolve the issue, as suspension or banning decisions can cause both financial and moral damages.

The Iranian official indicated that there was no intentional insulting content directed at citizens of Arab descent in the series, but acknowledged that some content may have offended citizens, adding, "We hope to resolve the issue by removing the content that caused citizens to complain."

Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi also stated in his remarks on the subject, "This series does not have a SATRA license, and its broadcast has caused discomfort and complaints among our citizens of Arab descent."

News Source: 12punto