Publication of a Sketch by Ayatollah Khamenei in an Article About Poverty Becomes Controversial; Newspaper Kelid Shut Down
The Press Supervisory Board has revoked the publishing license of the newspaper “Kelid.” Authorities have not mentioned the reason for this shutdown, but some sources attribute the closure to the publication of a sketch by Ayatollah Khamenei that had previously been published in a foreign media outlet outside of Iran.
The Press Supervisory Board secretariat announced that in Monday’s session on November 17, the board reviewed the “violation” by Kelid newspaper and, based on the “provisions of the Press Law,” revoked its publishing license.
On Saturday, November 15, Kelid newspaper used a sketch in a report about the increase in basic living costs with the headline “Millions of Iranian Households Below the Poverty Line!” The sketch depicted the hand of the Islamic Republic’s leader drawing the poverty line. Apparently, the newspaper’s managers were unaware that this hand belonged to Ali Khamenei, and this sketch had previously been used in Kayhan London newspaper in an article about Khamenei’s role in Iranian poverty.
Kelid newspaper had been published since May 2015, with its publisher being the “International Institute for Culture and Education of the Path of the Imam,” its editor-in-chief being Atallah Hakimipour, and its managing editor being Mansoor Bitnazef.
Since the sketch was published in Kelid newspaper, supporters of the leader protested against it and demanded action against the newspaper.
On the other hand, some in cyberspace argue that there is not much difference and the reality is that the Islamic Republic’s leader’s policies have contributed to increasing poverty in the country.
Based on calculations by the Supreme Council of Workers’ Islamic Councils of Iran, the household basic living costs basket is 11 million and 479 thousand tomans, and “the percentage of wage coverage in October reached 35.36 percent”; meaning “the minimum wage covers less than 40 percent of household living costs and is sufficient for 10.6 days of the month.”
Based on these calculations, the minimum wage and pensions in Iran only “provide enough to cover the food expenses of an average 3.3-member household,” provided they eat only “one hot meal” per day and spend the other two meals “cold” with cold food.
The Islamic Republic leader’s role in Iran’s economic management is evident. Following Khamenei’s order, imports of household appliances made in South Korea were banned.
He has previously intervened many times in specialized fields and exposed Iranian citizens’ lives to numerous dangers. Yet in his speeches, he apparently claims to lack expertise.
Earlier, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated that the Ibrahim Raisi government is revising the 2022 budget bill based on Ayatollah Khamenei’s views.
Meanwhile, some argue that a simple photo mistake should not lead to a newspaper’s shutdown.
Hassan Asadi Zidabadi, a journalist, tweeted that this is not the first time that “image and sketch searches” have had such consequences.
Source: Voice of America
