Guidelines for political satirists in Iran

Political cartoonists in Iran have been told by the government that the dignity of their leaders should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of humour.

The state news agency reports that editors have been ordered to refrain from publishing satirical caricatures of important politicians which may harm their image in society.

Such articles or drawings have long been a feature of Iranian newspapers, although earlier this year a cartoonist with a reformist paper was briefly jailed for his unflattering depiction of a top conservative cleric. Since February nearly twenty newspapers have been shut down in a campaign against supporters of the reformist movement. A statement from the culture ministry said observance of the guidelines was necessary because of the social and psychological consequences of satirical sketches.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service