Iranian popstar who penned anti-regime protest anthem is jailed - and ordered to write a song railing against 'the USA's atrocities against humanity' as punishment

• Shervin Hajipour, 27, was jailed more than three years over his song ‘Baraye’
• Court issued two-year travel ban and ordered he create a song about ‘US crimes’
• He must also summarize books on the status of women in Islam, the court ruled

An Iranian pop star who wrote a Grammy Award winning anti-regime protest anthem has been jailed and ordered to write a new song railing against the ‘USA’s atrocities against humanity’ as punishment.

Shervin Hajipour, 27, 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 charges related to his song, ‘Baraye’, or ‘For’ in English, which became a national anthem supporting protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

The lyrics list reasons that young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran’s ruling theocracy after Amini’s death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandated headscarf to the liking of security forces.

The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour to create a song about ‘US crimes,’ according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency. He is required to make posts about America’s crimes online and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam.

The court said Hajipour’s unusual punishment was deemed necessary to reflect the ‘gravity of his actions’ and was issued in part because he hadn’t properly expressed regret over publishing the song.

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 create a song about ‘US crimes,’ according to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency. He is required to make posts about America’s crimes online and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam

Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday – the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election – what appeared to be part of the judgement against him.

He posted a photograph 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 don’t get insulted and threatened, because insults and threats are not in the religion of humanity,’ he wrote. ‘Finally, one day we will understand each other. Until then.’

Iranian state-run media, focused on the election Friday, didn’t note Hajipour’s sentence.

However, the musician does not appear to be intimidated by Iran’s legal system and last month released another controversial song seemingly taking aim at the regime and the charges he faced.

The lyrics of the new song stated that he is ‘trash who didn’t have anyone 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 the Grammy’s new song for social change special merit award for ‘Baraye’ during the ceremony last year. The song won the award due to its ‘profound social influence and impact’.

The lyrics of ‘Baraye’ list reasons that young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran ‘s ruling theocracy after Amini’s death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandated headscarf to the liking of security forces. Pictured: Mahsa Amini

Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday, the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election, what appeared to be part of the judgement against him. He posted a photograph of his verdict

The pop star, in his Instagram post, also thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support

First Lady Jill Biden, pictured at the Grammys in February 2023, awarded Hajipour the song for social change special merit award for ‘Baraye’ during the ceremony last year. The song won the award due to its ‘profound social influence and impact

The song begins with: ‘For dancing in the streets,’ ‘for the fear we feel when we kiss.’

It further lists reasons that young Iranians posted online for why they had protested after Amini’s death. The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran’s clerical rulers. A subsequent security crackdown killed more than 500 people, with more than 22,000 detained.

‘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 sentencing comes as other activists, journalists and artists have faced arrest, imprisonment and harassment since the demonstrations. Among those imprisoned is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran condemned Hajipour’s sentencing Friday, and demanded Iran immediately release him from the sentence.

‘This blatant violation of Shervin’s rights to free 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 another controversial song seemingly taking aim 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 ordering Hajipour to prison as well as sentencing rappers and others over their music critical of the government in Tehran.

‘Shervin Hajipour’s sentencing is another awful attempt to suppress the independent voices who channel the demands of the Iranian people for basic 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 equitable future for all.’

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