Most of Iranian families in big cities with huh population have DISH satellites on top of their houses that basically grants them the access to many free and premium channels being broadcasted from America and Europe. Also nowadays people in smaller cities do use this – many watch forigner Iranian channels based in UK such as ManotoTV, BBC Persian or English speaking channels such as MTV, E! And other well known channels. Aside this, it is also interesting to note that ministers of TV and broadcast of Iran allows forigner programs including TV series and movies with woman acting in them to be shown publicly despit of their uncovered hairs, however all areas that feature showing body parts, kissing or sexual intimacy are censored – furthermore although they are tolerant within this area, they do not tolerate Iranian woman in local series and movies with showing hair or heavy make up- at many times directors and producers have been ordered to alter the story lines and character rules to fit the medium of Islamic rule or simply have prohibited them from continuing or even debuting their newly made films and series.
generally before Social networking existed, majority of western culture was imported to Iran through watching forigner channels. Whenevern viewing Instagram you can see the adopted fashion styles are mostly America’s and partially European fashion (mostly office style) mixed with heavy middle easternish make styles.
but this freedom only exist within houses and private lives. Also government regularly orders local police and Basij to enter buildings in major cities and make their ways to rooftop to destroy satellites DISHes. Although this has occurred countless times over course of 10 years or more, the popularly of DISHes have been ever increasing and we have not seen a decline in it, it is not easy to cite a credible source but an observation from people and number of views over forginer channels from Iran as published by companies does support this evidence. This never ending war has been continued for over years and people response “we buy a new one next day”. clearly Iranian do not place trust in government and TV shows, this has become more appealing since people have realised over course of many TV series, the stories were altered heavily to fit medium of Islamic practices.
Onviously over span of many years, people have become familiar with fashion, life style, health and routines of lives in westernised countries specially developed country. People have also adopted to celebrate traditions such as Valentine and Halloween in Iran, government specifically issues every year that any themed items related to such celebrations are subject to fine and people who celebrate it are subjected to fine and temporary detention as well .
as it seems no matter how much stopping force is placed in front of people’s foot, it seems they will co to Jie adopting their life styles
to the point where government announced that celebrating valentine is an actual crime.
basically government sees any forigner tradition as a threat to Islamic values and Islamic revolution. But woman and man have remained stronger than ever, they want to hope and imagine a better future, every day TV channels of Iran are filled with hours of prophet funeral ceremonies or Islamic programs and other pointless and outdated programmes. People are desperate for a reason to be happy for a day and why should we take it from them ?
i believe if government could have learnt a better lesson over all these years of tension among themselves and people, specially our woman- today we could have been in a different direction, better or worse I do not know but I know we could have received a bit more respect and attention from other countries.