Concert Performances and Music Education Banned in Iranian Universities
Following the prohibition of mixed student camps in universities, the Office of the Supreme Leader in universities has issued a regulation that comprehensively bans the performance of concerts and music education.
According to Iranian media reports, based on a new regulation issued by the Office of the Supreme Leader in universities, the use of music is permitted only in an “auxiliary” and “conditional” manner in university programs.
The six conditions stipulated for this type of music are: “Strengthening national identity and in accordance with Islamic standards,” “Possessing guiding content and message aimed at encouraging moral, social, political and revolutionary duties,” “Strengthening scientific spirit, self-confidence and the desire for progress,” “Using justified singers and cultural figures,” “Not inducing unusual emotions, arousing and stimulating desires specific to gatherings of indulgence and amusement,” and “Free from poetry and content encouraging recklessness, despair and hopelessness, superficiality and neglect of human dignity and servitude.” However, Article 4 of the regulation considers the performance of concerts and independent music programs outside the priorities of universities and has comprehensively prohibited them. This regulation has also banned music education in universities and only permits it for students whose educational curricula include music as an approved course. Previously, the Ministry of Science had prohibited the organization of mixed student camps.
