Grammy-Winning Iranian Pop Singer Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Mahsa Amini Protest Anthem

A pop artist from Iran, whose song became an anthem during large-scale demonstrations over a year ago, has been condemned to a minimum of three years in jail.

Shervin Hajipour, 26, wrote and released 'Baraye' amid widespread protests following Mahsa Amini's death in custody in September 2022.

Grammy Winner Iranian Singer Sentenced to 3 Years

(Photo : KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
A man watches a video of Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour, who was released in Tehran today after being arrested for his song in support of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, in the Cypriot capital Nicosia on October 4, 2022. - Hajipour, a 25-year-old Iranian pop singer and songwriter, rose to fame for the song "Baraye", "For", in which he put together messages posted on Twitter about the reasons for protests. The emotional performance became a viral hit on different social media platforms, with millions of views within days.

Shervin Hajipour, who won a Grammy for singing the protest song 'Baraye' ('For'), has been given a three-year prison term, a situation that has been overshadowed by Iran's parliamentary elections. The decision is related to the song's backing of the demonstrations following the unfortunate passing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody. She had been arrested for apparently not following the compulsory hijab (headscarf) regulation in Iran.

The details of the verdict's issuance remain unclear, as Iranian state-run media and official channels did not report the sentencing. Hajipour himself shared the news on the same day as the parliamentary elections, expressing gratitude to his legal team and 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."

Having previously served some prison time, Hajipour was out on bail awaiting the court's decision. The uncertainty prevails regarding whether he has reported to serve his sentence. Under Iranian law, concurrent jail sentences dictate that Hajipour would spend three years behind bars, according to Al Jazeera.

Restrictions for Protest Song

The court's decision stems, in part, from its belief that Hajipour inadequately expressed remorse for releasing the protest song. In addition to the prison term, a two-year travel ban has been imposed, and Hajipour is mandated to create a song highlighting "US crimes" and share online posts about these perceived transgressions.

Notably, the Grammy-winning artist received the award for Best Song for Social Change from First Lady Jill Biden during last year's ceremony in Los Angeles. The song, 'Baraye,' became an anthem for the protests following Mahsa Amini's death, evolving into a powerful call for freedom and women's rights.

While Iranian state media focused on the parliamentary elections, omitting any mention of Hajipour's sentence, international organizations condemned the verdict. The Centre for Human Rights in Iran called for his immediate release, labeling the sentence a "blatant violation of Shervin's rights to free speech and expression" and highlighting its implications for artistic freedom in the country.

PEN America, a non-profit advocating for the right to free expression, criticized Iran's actions, emphasizing that Hajipour's sentencing is part of a broader pattern of suppressing independent voices critical of the government. Julie Trebault, Director of PEN's Artists at Risk Connection, stated, "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," The National reported.