Iran singer who faces prison sentence wins Grammy for protest anthem

Iran singer who faces prison sentence wins Grammy for protest anthem

Published February 07,2023


Subscribe

An Iranian singer who faces potential jail time for his music that is turn out to be an anthem to the continued protests shaking the Islamic Republic wept early Monday after seeing he’d received a Grammy.

Shervin Hajipour appeared shocked after listening to Jill Biden, the spouse of President Joe Biden, announce he’d received the Grammy’s new music for social change particular advantage award for “Baraye.” An on-line video confirmed Hajipour in a darkened room, wiping tears away after the announcement.

Hajipour’s music “Baraye,” or “For” in English, begins with: “For dancing in the streets,” “for the fear we feel when we kiss.” The lyrics listing causes younger Iranians have posted on Twitter for why that they had protested Iran’s ruling theocracy.

It ends with the broadly chanted slogan that has turn out to be synonymous with the protests for the reason that September demise of Iranian-Kurdish lady Masha Amini.

“FOR WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM.”


Released on his Instagram web page, the music shortly went viral. Hajipour then was arrested and held for a number of days earlier than being launched on bail in October.

The 25-year-old singer faces prices of “propaganda against the regime” and “instigating the violence,” in line with Human Rights Activists in Iran, a bunch that is been monitoring the monthslong protests.

The prices Hajipour faces can carry as a lot as six years in jail all collectively. The singer can also be banned from leaving Iran.

Wearing a shining, off-the-shoulder Oscar de la Renta gown on the Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles, Biden mentioned {that a} music “can unite, inspire and ultimately change the world.”

“This song became the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests, a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights,” Biden mentioned. “Shervin was arrested, but this song continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme: Women, life, freedom.”

Those gathered cheered Biden’s remarks. On Instagram, Hajipour merely wrote: “We won.”

There was no speedy response in Iranian state media or from authorities officers to Hajipour’s win. The singer is amongst over 19,600 folks arrested amid the demonstrations, in line with Human Rights Activists in Iran. At least 527 folks have been killed amid a violent suppression of the demonstration by authorities.

On Sunday, Iran’s supreme chief on Sunday reportedly ordered an amnesty or discount in jail sentences for “tens of thousands” of individuals detained amid the protests, acknowledging for the primary time the dimensions of the crackdown.

Source: www.anews.com.tr

Leave a Reply