TEHRAN – The publication of Persian versions of the Turkish novels “The Forbidden Love” and “The Magnificent Century” has stirred controversy at the 26th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF).
Over the past two years, Iranian viewers have been watching two Turkish-made soap operas of the same names based on the novels via Gem TV, a foreign Persian satellite channel that broadcasts films, TV shows, and TV series.
The TV dramas have repeatedly been criticized in the Iranian media over their immoral content. “The Forbidden Love” is based on a romance novel by Turkish writer Halit Ziya Usakligil, and “The Magnificent Century” chronicles the adventures in the imperial household of Suleiman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century.
Iranian officials made various comments about the publication of the novels in Iran.
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini said on Friday that the rest of the copies of the novels will be removed from the TIBF.
Afterwards, the director of the Evaluation Committee for the TIBF said on Saturday that there is no ban on offering the books for sale at the book fair.
“All the regulations have been observed in the publication of the novels, and there is no ban on the publication of the books in Iran,” Majid Hamidzadeh stated.
He said that the criticism of the TV serials should not be generalized to include the novels.
The TIBF, Iran’s biggest trade show of books, runs until May 11.
MMS/YAW/HG
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