Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati said he would hold a meeting with the minister of interior to discuss the issue of holding concerts and find a solution to prevent their cancellation.
“We will revise the decision to prevent law enforcement forces from cancelling a concert permitted by the Culture Ministry,” Jannati told reporters on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, MNA reported.
According to an earlier Cabinet decision, the law enforcement forces were allowed to “intervene in activities” organized by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Recently, several concerts approved by the ministry were cancelled on the eve of their performance by the law enforcement forces in different cities. The reason for the cancellation, however, was not explained clearly by those responsible for the action. They sufficed to say that some concerts “are against religious traditions.”
This attitude toward musical performances, ranging from traditional to pop, which have been granted permission by the ministry, has raised questions by the public as well as the organizers. The public want a clear official answer why some concerts are allowed while others are not.
Although the culture minister and his deputies have announced that “no organization has the authority to cancel any concert approved by the ministry,” the trend continues. At a press conference last week President Hassan Rouhani, when asked about the matter, said cultural activities should be run by cultural authorities.
Rouhani said everyone should abide by the law. “When a permit is authorized, others should not interfere; if a concert is cancelled after people have purchased tickets, this is violating their rights,” he noted.
