The Ministry of Culture in Iran has come under criticism for censoring a sentence indirectly critical of Russia in the translation of a psychology book.

The sentence in question, "Putin's bombing of Ukraine," was allegedly censored, shedding light on a wider discussion about regime influence on literary and scientific content.

Asadollah Amrayi, a famous translator and journalist, revealed the alarming development, stating that the ministry has demanded the removal of the sentence related to Ukraine's from the translated book.

Taking to the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Amrayi expressed his astonishment: "Can you believe that in a motivational psychology book, the Culture Ministry has demanded the removal of [such a sentence?]” The incident has sparked conversations on social media, with some interpreting the ministry’s actions as a reflection of a "Russophile" stance, hinting at a government bias towards Russia.

Interestingly, the media landscape in Iran presents a skewed view of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, often favoring Moscow's perspective. This episode has also given rise to comparisons with George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, with some users likening the Ministry of Culture to the infamous Ministry of Truth. This fictional institution altered historical events to suit the regime's narrative.

Censorship of books in Iran has a long history, but it has intensified under the influence of the Islamic Republic. In a recent report, Foreign Policy highlighted the mounting apprehension and control within cultural domains over the past two years. Various artistic fields have been hampered by the conservative policies of President Ebrahim Raisi's government, leading to challenges for independent artists working within an atmosphere of fear and restraint.