An Iranian pop star who wrote a Grammy Award-winning anti-regime protest song has been jailed and ordered to write a new song speaking out against “US atrocities against humanity” as punishment.
Shervin Hajipour, 27, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after being charged with “inciting unrest against national security,” “spreading propaganda against the system” and “encouraging people to protest.”
The charges related to his song “Baraye,” or “For” in English, which became an anthem in support of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
The texts mention reasons young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran’s ruling theocracy following Amini’s death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandatory headscarf as per the wishes of security forces.
The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour to make a song about “American crimes,” according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency. He must post online about American crimes and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam.
The court said Hajipour’s unusual sentence was deemed necessary to reflect the “seriousness of his actions” and was imposed in part because he had not properly expressed remorse for the song’s publication.
Shervin Hajipour, 27, (pictured) was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after being accused of ‘inciting unrest against national security’, ‘spreading propaganda against the system’ and ‘encouraging people to protest’
The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour (pictured) to make a song about “American crimes,” according to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency. He must post online about American crimes and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam
The charges related to his song “Baraye,” or “For” in English, which became an anthem in support of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Pictured: Iranian protesters burn a garbage can in the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini in September 2022
Hajipour Posted Instagram on Friday – the same day Iran held its parliamentary elections – which appeared to be part of the verdict against him.
He posted a photo of his verdict and thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support.
“I will not mention the name of the judge and the prosecutor so that they are not insulted and threatened, because insults and threats are not part of the religion of humanity,” he wrote. ‘Finally one day we will understand each other. Until then.’
Iranian state media, focused on Friday’s elections, did not note Hajipour’s verdict.
However, the musician does not seem to be intimidated by the Iranian legal system and last month released a controversial song apparently aimed at the regime and the charges he faced.
The lyrics of the new song stated that he is “a garbage man who had no one to post bail for him” and will “stay in Iran to rebuild this city” even though he is “not allowed to sing in public.” CNN reported.
First Lady Jill Biden awarded Hajipour with the Grammy’s new song for social change special merit award for ‘Baraye’ during last year’s ceremony. The song won the award for its ‘profound social influence and impact’.
The lyrics of ‘Baraye’ list reasons young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran’s ruling theocracy following Amini’s death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandatory headscarf as per the security forces’ wishes. In the photo: Mahsa Amini
Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday, the same day Iran held its parliamentary elections, which appeared to be part of the verdict against him. He posted a photo of his verdict
The pop star also thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support in his Instagram post
First Lady Jill Biden, pictured at the Grammys in February 2023, awarded Hajipour the Special Merit Award for Song for Social Change for “Baraye” at last year’s ceremony. The song won the award for its ‘profound social influence and impact’
The song begins: ‘For dancing in the streets’, ‘for the fear we feel when we kiss.’
It further states the reasons young Iranians posted online for protesting after Amini’s death. The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran’s spiritual rulers. More than 500 people were killed in a subsequent security crackdown, with more than 22,000 arrested.
“This song became the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests, a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights,” Biden said at the awards ceremony.
“Shervin was arrested, but this song continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme: Women, life, freedom.”
Hajipour’s conviction comes as other activists, journalists and artists have faced arrests, imprisonment and intimidation since the demonstrations. Among the prisoners is Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi.
The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran on Friday condemned Hajipour’s conviction and demanded that Iran immediately release him from the sentence.
“This blatant violation of Shervin’s right to freedom of speech and expression is a grave injustice and a clear affront to human rights principles,” the center said.
Hajipour (pictured) does not appear to be intimidated by Iran’s legal system and last month released a controversial song seemingly aimed at the regime and the charges he faced
“His imprisonment serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing repression faced by artists, activists and dissenting voices in Iran.”
PEN America similarly criticized Iran for sentencing Hajipour to prison and sentencing rappers and others for their music critical of the government in Tehran.
“Shervin Hajipour’s conviction is yet another terrible attempt to suppress the independent voices channeling the Iranian people’s demands for fundamental freedoms,” said Julie Trébault, director of PEN’s Artists at Risk Connection.
“The Iranian government fears the power of music to give hope and inspire citizens to dream of a better and more just future for all.”