What we watch on TV in Iran?

Today a friend of mine asked "what do you guys watch on TV in Iran?" I smiled and told him, we usually watch mourning shows or something close it, otherwise there is nothing specific on our TV channels. He asked me "what?!!" So I explained what I am talking about.

In Iran which is majority is Shiite and TV is state run, every TV show should comply with strict Islamic rules and calendars. In our Islamic calendar, unfortunately most holidays assigned to mourn for some Imams (Muslim historical persons) which they were dead a long time ago, almost 1200 - 1400 years ago! For some of these Imams people mourn more than one day. Also there are mourning ceremonies for Muhammad prophet and his daughter.

It doesn't finish here though; Ramadan is a mourning month too. All month there are programs that people read Koran, mourning and mourning. There are some other mourning days for Khomeini (deceased supreme leader). We do have some other days that are not official mourning days but TV programs and everywhere look like mourning day.

Hips call these days "Mourning Days". Mourning Days are black in Iran. Let me show you some of our TV shows. Click on these links for sample shows; Imam Ali (needles to say that it doesn't have english subtitle when they play in Iran but here you see), a mourning show, a new generation mourning (in new generation of mournings they pay a little attention to presentation and music). Don't even think this business is just limited to adults, kids are in mourning business too check this one.

I almost forget there is something that called Adhan (call to prayer) that is on TV and radio at least 3 times everyday, click here. Also there are some movies, Iranian and fully censored western movies.

Just sad, nonsense and time wasting TV shows, rarely there is a good show or movie on TV.