This is pink-washing, this is art-washing, and we’re against it.
These are the words of activists in Israel who were protesting against its hosting of the Eurovision contest a few months ago. They were objecting to what they said were the real intentions of holding this arts-based event: white-washing the images of the atrocities that the Israeli government inflicts upon the geographically and economically marginalized Palestinians.
And now, after Iranians in Canada woke up to the news that Iran International is sponsoring one of the largest cultural events outside of Iran, similar concerns have been raised about the sponsorship being an art-washing move.
The name “Iran International” with its recent bid to sponsor Tirgan Festival, can mislead the audience into thinking this is a politically impartial channel that has at is heart progressive interests and causes for Iranian people.
However, under the guise of neutrality, Iran International has had troubling coverages in its report card. Its previous coverage of the MeK (Mujahedin-e-Khalq) conference in Paris, or its interviews with the Al-Ahwaz terrorist group and calling them “activists” on-air, are a few examples that had made anti-war and anti-foreign-intervention activists not only concerned but on the watch for the seemingly-neutral future moves of the channel to gain influence amongst Iranians. Furthermore, several reports from The Guardian and the Wall Street Journal have concluded that the network is being funded by groups linked to the Saudi royal court.
Saudi Arabia does not enjoy the slightest ounce of popularity in Iran. It’s a known fact among Iranians that Saudi officials have consistently pressured the US to launch military action against Iran. For Saudi Arabia to advance its agenda of intervention and influence it needs to present a different and neutral image of itself. One that cannot be promoted without pink-washing and art-washing. The sponsorship for Tirgan festival through the Saudi-backed Iran International TV is doing precisely that.
This move is even more troubling once one becomes aware of the kingdom’s prosecutions against women’s rights activists and of diversity issues in general within Saudi Arabia. Knowing this, their sponsorship of Tirgan festival becomes suspicious to say the least.
I am confident however that Tirgan organizers, directors and hardworking volunteers are as cognizant and as concerned as progressive Iranian activists once they also realize how, through this sponsorship, art-washing is taking place.
Little by little Iranians are gaining awareness about the subtle tactics of interference in Iran’s affairs passed on under the name of noble causes. Tirgan festival needs to take action by removing Iran International from the list of its sponsors. Otherwise, their reputation would hardly recover from -knowingly or otherwise- partaking in art-washing of a Saudi-backed propaganda network.
