Days after security forces attacked a group of photojournalists in Qom, authorities have imposed strict censorship on reporters in the city, insisting they obtain permission before taking any photographs.

On August 11, Qom security officers attacked a group of photojournalists as they reported on an event mourning the martyrdom of Imam Sadeq, the sixth imam in Shia tradition. Prominent cleric and Qom seminary leader Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani was in attendance.

Three days after the incident, on August 14, Ahmad Sadeghi, social deputy of the security forces, wrote to news agencies ordering them to request permission before allowing their journalists to take photographs. Failure to follow the new directive could result in confiscation of media workers� phones and photography equipment. �In order to prevent chaos in Qom province and avoid any negative consequences, obtaining a permission for photography will be compulsory,� reported Qom-e Farda.

Qom security forces have appealed to the media in the province to cooperate with the security forces� demands.

Fordoo News referred to the new measure as �strange,� adding that relations between journalists and security officials had generally been good, and that province authorities had treated reporters with respect for the most part.

Hadi Daris, who chairs the board of directors of the journalists� association representing the Qom reporters, responded with an open letter, urging the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to take �immediate action� to reverse the recent censorship directive. He said the demand for journalists to obtain permission was illegal.

By Journalism Is Not A Crime