Analysis of the Duties of the Islamic Government in Confronting Misleading Media (An Ethical, Jurisprudential, and Legal Examination)

Abstract

The present article aims to elucidate the duties of the Islamic government in confronting misleading media and has been conducted using a descriptive–analytical research method with library-based data collection. The findings indicate that misleading media, through the production and dissemination of deviant content, generate multiple ethical, doctrinal, political, economic, and social harms within Islamic society. Based on jurisprudential foundations such as the principle of Nafy al-Sabil (negation of domination), the obligation to preserve the Islamic system, the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and the prohibition of assisting in sin, the Islamic government is obligated to undertake active and comprehensive measures against such media. From a legal perspective, the laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran—including the Constitution, the Islamic Penal Code, the Computer Crimes Law, and the general policies of the system in the field of cyberspace—have established the necessary frameworks for supervision, regulation, and legal action against these media outlets. By explaining the various dimensions of the Islamic government’s duties, this article proposes a systematic model for effectively confronting media-related threats. Moving beyond one-dimensional and reductionist approaches, the study offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of governmental obligations toward misleading media, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge in the fields of media jurisprudence and communications law while presenting an indigenous, efficient, and practicable model for policymakers and executive authorities. This model is capable of safeguarding Islamic and revolutionary values while simultaneously providing a dynamic, secure, and free environment for legitimate media activities.