The Deputy Minister of Art Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance: We only support artists who are supporters of the Islamic Republic.
Mahmoud Salari, Deputy Minister of Art Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said, ‘I am the Deputy Minister of Art Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government. The notion that artists say you are our representative is not true.’
He added, ‘Some artists are interested in forming alliances. I am not the representative of the artists; I am the representative of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I must implement its directives. If an artist wants to promote immorality or liberal ethics, there is no reason for the government to support them. Anyone who wants to insult the Islamic Republic should get their funding from those who tell them to insult. Why should the government support them?’