The official government newspaper, Iran Newspaper INN, has suddenly decided to use the Ghomayshi vs. Ghomayshi case in what seems to be a calculated move in order to argue its case against current popular music. The paper very unconventionally brings up details of the kind that a sanctioned media inside the country never brings up, not to mention an indirect acknowledgement of an artist living in exile. Hot-potatoes strictly forbidden by the authorities, unless used for a sanctioned purpose. Like in Habib’s case, for instance! INN very openly brings up the fact that Alireza Ghomayshi whose debut album “Asir” has just been released after five years of suspension at the Ministry (Ershaad), is using or to quote “stealing” his father’s name and reputation, not to mention songs, despite Siavash’s explicitly expressed denouncement and disapprovement. The fact that a Ministry suddenly decides to grant a permit for an album that even its creators’ mark as “outdated” and then use the official organ in order to discredit it while crediting an artist in exile is something very interesting to bear in mind for future developments, especially considering the recent plots of the Ahmadinejad cabinet!
Note: Thanks to Mansour J.
