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Iranian singer appears in video for first time after release
Agence France-Presse
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TEHRAN —
Iranian pop singer Shervin Hajipour appeared on Sunday in an Instagram video
for the first time since his release after he was arrested over a viral song in
support of protests over Mahsa Amini’s death.اضافة اعلان
The singer, who rose to fame for his song Baraye, denied any links to any “movement or organization outside the country” and said his song was only meant to “express solidarity with the people”.
A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Amini died on September 16, after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women.
The street violence has led to dozens of deaths — mostly of protesters, but also members of the security forces. Hundreds were also arrested.
Hajipour, a 25-year-old pop singer and songwriter, was arrested in late September after his song Baraye — “for” or “because” in Persian — went viral.
The song racked up 40 million views on Instagram before it was deleted after his arrest. He was released on bail on Tuesday, state media said.
In his latest video, Hajipour sought to explain his recent absence to his two million followers, saying that since his song went viral, there were “some concerns over whether I’m affiliated to a certain movement or organization outside the country”.
“Thank God this misunderstanding was cleared, and it is obvious that I wrote and sang this work only to express solidarity with the people who were critical of society’s situation,” he said.
The video, where Hajipour appeared to be in the front seat of a vehicle recording the video himself, was also posted by local news agencies.
Baraye is composed of tweets about the protests, and highlights the longings people have for things lacking in sanctions-hit Iran, or everyday activities that might land people in trouble with the authorities in the Islamic republic.
“For the sake of dancing in the streets; Because of the fear felt while kissing; For my sister, your sister, our sisters,” the song’s lyrics say.
In his video on Sunday, Hajipour said: “I live in Iran and want to stay here, live here, and sing here and if I want to say something, or want to make criticism, I’d like it to be done here.”
The singer also appealed to the authorities to take “a fatherly approach towards people who have similar situations as me”, adding that he will not be holding “any interviews with anyone”.
Hajipour had posted a message on Instagram after his release, seeking to distance himself from politics.
“I’m here to say I’m okay,” he wrote, adding that “I would not swap this (country) for anywhere else and I will stay for my homeland, my flag, my people, and I will sing.”
Read more Music
Jordan News
The singer, who rose to fame for his song Baraye, denied any links to any “movement or organization outside the country” and said his song was only meant to “express solidarity with the people”.
A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Amini died on September 16, after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women.
The street violence has led to dozens of deaths — mostly of protesters, but also members of the security forces. Hundreds were also arrested.
Hajipour, a 25-year-old pop singer and songwriter, was arrested in late September after his song Baraye — “for” or “because” in Persian — went viral.
The song racked up 40 million views on Instagram before it was deleted after his arrest. He was released on bail on Tuesday, state media said.
In his latest video, Hajipour sought to explain his recent absence to his two million followers, saying that since his song went viral, there were “some concerns over whether I’m affiliated to a certain movement or organization outside the country”.
“Thank God this misunderstanding was cleared, and it is obvious that I wrote and sang this work only to express solidarity with the people who were critical of society’s situation,” he said.
The video, where Hajipour appeared to be in the front seat of a vehicle recording the video himself, was also posted by local news agencies.
Baraye is composed of tweets about the protests, and highlights the longings people have for things lacking in sanctions-hit Iran, or everyday activities that might land people in trouble with the authorities in the Islamic republic.
“For the sake of dancing in the streets; Because of the fear felt while kissing; For my sister, your sister, our sisters,” the song’s lyrics say.
In his video on Sunday, Hajipour said: “I live in Iran and want to stay here, live here, and sing here and if I want to say something, or want to make criticism, I’d like it to be done here.”
The singer also appealed to the authorities to take “a fatherly approach towards people who have similar situations as me”, adding that he will not be holding “any interviews with anyone”.
Hajipour had posted a message on Instagram after his release, seeking to distance himself from politics.
“I’m here to say I’m okay,” he wrote, adding that “I would not swap this (country) for anywhere else and I will stay for my homeland, my flag, my people, and I will sing.”
Read more Music
Jordan News
