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Iranwire – The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic has announced plans for a large-scale shake up within the ministry.
“After two years of earnest efforts, 400 Hezbollah youth are set to join this ministry by the end of summer with the aim of bringing significant transformations to the ministry,” said Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, referring to hardline government supporters.
Highlighting the challenges of recruiting and preparing this new entry into the ministry’s workforce, who are staunchly loyal to the Islamic Republic, Esmaili acknowledged that the task had been “difficult.”
The selection process involved “handpicking individuals from the ranks of the revolutionary front, specifically well-known, experienced, and trusted personnel of the Islamic Republic.”
Esmaili’s emphasis on recruiting “Hezbollah youth” stems from recent speeches of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei had called for the training and employment of “revolutionary youth forces” within the Iranian government.
Esmaili, who is also the the author of the text “Political Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei,” joined Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration in August 2021 without prior executive work experience.
In late June, Esmaili publicly acknowledged a “severe shortage” of expertise within the Iranian government, expressing concern over the lack “of specialized and committed human resources” despite four decades of Islamic Republic rule.
The inclusion of “Hezbollah” forces in the ministry is expected to intensify pressure on various cultural sectors within the country – and it could lead to increased censorship and exclusion of artists and further restrict freedom of expression.
Under the Ebrahim Raisi administration, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has undertaken a more aggressive stance towards artists and has exerted more control over the nation’s cultural sphere.
Numerous artists have already faced threats, summonses, and bans from the ministry in response to their support for nationwide protests.
