Iran bans books that “inflame ethnic strife”

Iran Focus:

Tehran, Iran, Oct. 22 – Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance banned the publication of several books about Iran’s ethnic minorities, according to a statement by the ministry’s Supervisory Council for Publication of Books. Every author has to obtain the council’s green light to be allowed to publish a book.

Among the books rejected for publication by the ministry’s Supervisory Council was “Ghonout Shabaneh Amir-al-Momeneen”, which highlighted differences among Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

Other banned books included “The Notes of Qar”, which dealt with the issue of alcoholism in Iranian society.

Iran is home to several non-Persian ethnic groups, such as Azeris, Kurds, Baluchis and Arabs. Ethnic tensions have increased in recent months, fuelled by the Islamic Republic’s repressive policies. Dozens have been killed and many wounded in anti-government uprisings in the restive provinces of Kurdistan and Khuzistan in recent months.