Without Self-Censorship, I Would Have No Friends

In this series on self-censorship, we asked writers, artists, journalists and human rights activists to define self-censorship. Where possible, they are invited to give examples of their experiences, and to describe what they have witnessed.

We presented each interviewee with the same set of questions, adapting them or asking further questions where relevant.

Our intention was not to challenge the interviewees. We wanted them to express their own perspective of self-censorship.

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Atoosa Azizi is a reporter and music director for Radio Farda, the Persian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague.

How do you define self-censorship?

Self-censorship is avoiding saying or writing whatever is on your mind. Avoiding talking about reality might have different reasons and everybody has his own filters.

Is self-censorship an example of social misconduct or prudence?

If we define self-censorship as observing social and civil niceties before we express an opinion then it is certainly necessary for peaceful coexistence. If all of us spoke only the truth then everything would fall apart. But there is another kind of self-censorship that we might consider morally reprehensible. In a dictatorial system, after a while, cultural and social activists take on the duties of the institutions of suppression and censorship. Then the censorship scissors are no longer wielded only by the government officials, but find a cozy home in the minds of the artists, journalists and writers. A deep compromise is reached within the existing situation so that the show will go on. They observe the regime’s red lines and sometimes they become more zealous than the regime itself because they want their work to be published.

Now we can argue over whether this is an unavoidable necessity or a sellout of one’s ideals and beliefs at a bargain-basement price.

Iran is a self-censoring society. Is this self-censorship rooted in Iranian culture or in its history and political events?

Maybe Iranians are more cautious than other people but can culture take shape all by itself without being influenced by history and political events? They directly affect each other. Historical and political events of the past decades and centuries have convinced [Iranian] people that free expression will have serious consequences for them.

Cultural activities have been dependent on the acceptance of the framework imposed by the regime over the last four decades.  But even before revolution, complete freedom of action did not exist. First we must have such a freedom to see how capable  Iranian society is of taking advantage of it. But even that depends on the tolerance of the society that until now has not had much experience with an open political and cultural environment, and has not learned how to deal with the freedom of expression.

There can be no doubt that self-censorship is not “genetic” and that it is necessitated by existing conditions. But even if tomorrow, suddenly, all the red lines disappeared, it would still take a long time for Iranian society to accept certain things under the banner of freedom of expression. In other words, you cannot expect an open culture and a readiness to tolerate different ways of thinking from a society that, for historical and political reasons, has not been educated to grasp the meaning of freedom.

Can you give us an example of when you have practiced self-censorship?

Personally I have never had to choose between inactivity and trampling on the morals in which I believe. I left Iran close to three decades ago and all my professional life has been spent in countries with democratic systems, meaning that I have always enjoyed freedom of expression. Even so, the rules governing my profession constrain my freedom of expression. For example, I am not allowed to express my personal opinions in my area of activity (music) not only from behind the mike but also on social networking sites, especially if they are negative. These limitations might sometimes feel painful but they are logical and understandable.

But let me say that in the case of social networks, self-censorship happens to be a very good thing. If I had written everything that came to my mind by reading other people’s writings without filtering them then perhaps I would not have a friend left.

By the way, did you know that Facebook keeps what you write but then change your mind and delete? They are now in possession of a massive archive of texts and views that have never been published. It is not clear what they will do with it. Do you know what Facebook calls this archive? “Self-Censorship!”

Also in the series: 

Self-Censorship is more Painful than Censorship

Self-Censorship is Self-Defense