Are Iranian Satellite Channels Aiding Regime Change?

14 February 18, 2018 News & Analysis Iran Are Iranian satellite channels aiding regime change?

Suddaf Chaudry blocked Manoto TV and its web content but audiences used a vir- tual private network (VPN) to gain London access. Manoto’s entertainment shows he Iranian regime’s grip are critically assessed by the gov- on power is facing a seri- ernment for subliminal messages ous challenge from pro- that could incite regime change. tests on the streets and The cultural identity that has been the airwaves. formed by satellite channels is in TA perfect storm is brewing and a touch with increasing popular con- restless young Iranian population sumerism. The more the state at- is demanding change. The growth tempts to jam signals, the greater of satellite television in Iran has the challenge of delegitimising changed the landscape, becoming changing cultural orthodoxies. The the single most important medium crisis following anti-establishment of culture and information. The protests casts a new light on the advent of social media platforms country’s hotly contested media combined with satellite television space, representing a challenging is challenging Iranian Supreme dichotomy of internal perturbation. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s The regime finds criticism ex- republic. tremely painful to manage. Azimi Iranian media said 70% of the said: “Domestic papers and state population watches satellite tel- TV & Radio are under a lot of re- evision, much of which is run by strictions and at times accused of Iranians in exile. State media chan- taking sides with specific parties or nel IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran giving misleading coverage to the Broadcasting) largely ignored the demonstrations. International and protests that took place in more regional news providers are also than 100 cities over eight days, due at times ignored or censored by to strict governmental regulation. them.” Many learned what was happening There is a long-running deadlock in their country from satellite chan- between conservatives and politi- nels beaming in from London and cal elites, as younger generations the wider Western world. Serious challenge. A BBC Persian service presenter gets ready to present the news at the corporation’s are desperate for an alternative. A woman in Tehran, speaking headquarters in London. (AP) Taleblu said Khamenei was particu- on condition of anonymity, said: larly concerned that Iranians in ex- “They (the regime) are trying to dis- of both channels. history and provides Western-style achievements over the last five ile are creating “a soft war” against connect us from the world but we Manoto said it has a loyal fanbase programming that connects with years as unprecedented, calling it a Iran. find a way.” of more than 40 million viewers, young audiences. With two-thirds professional network with a devel- “Khamenei has obsessed over the Ofcom, a British regulatory board, which would make it one of the of the country’s population born oped narrative. soft war argument. You can make received a complaint from the Ira- most watched channels by Iranians, after 1979, many young viewers BBC Persian is also a household a very coherent case that Iran is nian Embassy regarding BBC Per- but the statistics are hard to verify. identify with shows in which men name in the Persian-speaking mar- much more concerned with inter- sian and Manoto, which it accused A BBC monitoring report in 2010 and women experience common ket. Amir Azimi, BBC Persian’s nal unrest. A possibility of another of inciting “armed revolt” during stated that Manoto had outstripped freedoms. news, TV and radio editor, identi- revolution is very real, perhaps the recent protests. Manoto CEO its main rivals, BBC Persian and fied its significant reach “through more than any foreign military in- Kayvan Abbassi declined to com- Voice of America. The network’s The advent of social decades of a professional approach vasion,” he said. ment on the complaint. His net- funding is hard to substantiate but media platforms to covering news and providing bal- Satellite channels have built a work, via telephoned comments, Iran Human Rights Review alleged anced analysis, context to the sto- revolution of trust that has been said it has been Abbassi’s policy not the venture capitalists have a con- combined with ries. We’ve built trust among the welcomed by Iranians who are to conduct interviews over the past nection to the British government. satellite television is audience and they know whenever open to new ideas. The genera- seven years. Following the anti-establish- challenging a major story breaks we are there.” tional shift is significant, as was Ofcom Senior Communications ment protests, Manoto journalist Khamenei’s republic. Professor Ali Ansari, of the Uni- evidenced by recent protests but Manager Lizzi Regan confirmed Pouria Zeraati posted on Twitter versity of St Andrews’ Institute for internal political dynamics are still the organisation received a com- a photo of affluent Iranians enjoy- The explicit messaging of the Iranian Studies, said via e-mail: regressive. Whether the regime can plaint from the Iranian Embassy. ing themselves poolside pre-1979 “good old days” is a sophisticated “I think Manoto has a clear perspec- be a capable adversary in a techno- The complaint is pending because next to a photo of a desolate pool mechanism in hammocking audi- tive. I think it would be too strong logically advanced landscape with the embassy failed to provide suffi- today, alongside the viral hashtag ences. Behnam Ben Taleblu, an to suggest that any of them have an a highly motivated young popula- cient detail on the programmes that “#What_we_gave_vs_what_we_got.” analyst at the Washington-based overt political agenda other than to tion remains to be seen. caused its concerns. This indicates Manoto is known for celebrating Foundation for Defense of Democ- provide an alternative perspective.” Iran is concerned about a possible life in pre-revolutionary Iran. The racies, described Manoto as hav- The “alternative perspective” Suddaf Chaudry is a journalist revolution through the airwaves channel is emphatic in televising ing “won the hearts and minds of has stopped IRIB from galvanis- who focuses on the Middle East due to significant audience traction this progressive chapter of Iran’s Iranians.” He described Manoto’s ing audiences. On January 29, Iran and South Asia. Viewpoint Revolution Day in Iran: No cause for celebration

ebruary 11 marked the have not… Today, we have to let anniversary of Iran’s them board the train again.” 1979 revolution, which Rohani was clearly referring to Ali Alfoneh ended the monarchy the broad political coalition that and established the forced Iran’s last shah, Moham- is a non-resident senior Islamic Republic. Every mad Reza Pahlavi, into exile. The fellow at Rafik Hariri Centre year, the regime in coalition included liberals, Com- for the Middle East at Tehran has celebrated Revolution munists and others and was purged the Atlantic Council. F Day with carefully choreographed by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah “spontaneous” rallies and military Khomeini and his Islamist aides. parades, endless official speeches The purge outlived Khomeini and and the burning of American and keeps Mehdi Karrubi and Mir- Israeli flags. Other empty ritual is Hossein Mousavi, both presidential routine as well. candidates in the 2009 election, The 39th anniversary of the under house arrest. revolution was no exception but Perhaps Rohani’s words were a there was also a sense of significant sign that he fears being purged him- change. Few Iranians act as though self by political opponents. Iran’s there is much cause for celebration. president is trying to mobilise the The Islamic Republic is still recov- Signs of alarm. Iranian President Hassan Rohani delivers a speech public in support of his cause — a ering from anti-regime protests that during a rally marking the 39th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic referendum to overhaul the institu- (AP) swept the country a few months ago. Revolution in Tehran, on February 11. tions of the state. The protests were led by impover- If he hoped his speech would ished Iranians, people whose cause idealistic high school student from senior commander during the produce the results he wanted, the revolutionary regime claims to awaiting revolutionary change… Iran-Iraq war to pop singer, is a case Rohani was to be disappointed. His champion. The revolution promised I hoped I could help create Paradise in point, using his Telegram chan- opponents, organised by the IRGC, them social justice but what they on Earth. Today, at the age of 56, nel to criticise the regime. responded to the president’s speech receive is poverty and beatings at I hope no youth ever dreams of “Today, the ruling elites of Iran by chanting “Death to liars, death to the hands of the police when they creating Paradise on Earth!” are soaked in embezzlement and the seditious!” shout out their dissatisfaction in the Ramezanzadeh was purged and plunder,” he said. “Innocent people The IRGC perceives Rohani and street. Unsurprisingly, they don’t served a prison term after the June suffer from poverty and injustice… Iran’s technocratic elites as the last find the anniversary of the revolu- 2009 protests stemming from the You are ignorant of tomorrow, a day barrier between it and total power. 39 years after the tion worthy of celebration. disputed presidential election. His which all bullies and autocrats of This makes the IRGC all the more revolution, there Political activists of the 1979 utopian paradise appears to have history experienced.” eager to attack the president’s are very few revolution too are not in celebrato- become hell. As he indicated, he Within the regime, Iranian inability to solve the country’s ry mood. Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, has little reason to celebrate Revo- President Hassan Rohani’s Revolu- economic problems and those of Iranians who find spokesman of former President lution Day. tion Day speech also showed signs ordinary Iranians. any reason to Mohammad Khatami’s government Dissatisfaction with the regime of growing alarm. Rohani said: Indeed, 39 years after the revolu- in the 1990s, tweeted on February also reached the ranks of Islamic “When the revolution took place, tion, there are very few Iranians celebrate its 10: “Thirty-nine years ago… at the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) we pushed some [people] off the who find any reason to celebrate its anniversary. age of 17, I was an enthusiastic and veterans. Hossein Zaman, who went revolutionary train that we should anniversary.