The Reading of Iran Residing Afghan Immigrants of Their Representation on Iranian Television

This research aims to study the reading of Afghan immigrants residing in Iran of their representation on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) programs. To study the issue, the reception analysis approach has been reviewed. The research method is qualitative and research data has been gathered through in depth interviews with 18 Afghan immigrants. Based on the analysis of the interviews, the Afghan immigrants are dissatisfied with the way of representing them in Iranian television channels up to the recent decade. Based on oppositional reading of interviewees on IRIB programs, Afghan immigrants are depicted negatively in TV news and series and they are dissatisfied with this depiction. Based on negotiation reading, the interviewees believe that their representation in Iranian television was very little and marginal or they have been misrepresented before the 2010s but the focus of Iranian television on Afghan immigrants has increased. They see the representation of Afghans has differed during recent decade because of Iranian T.V attention to the Afghan battle men who battled in Syria, and due to the increase of educated Afghans migration to Europe, besides the increasing diversity of media, especially the social media. However, the results signify the relative dissatisfaction  of Afghan immigrants living in Iran with their representation in some programs of the Iranian television channel, especially T.V news and series.