Also available in Persian — نسخه فارسی EN فا
🔴 Breaking ❓ Unknown

Arrest of 'Rousarito' Singer; Mehdi Yarahee: We Must Constantly Speak of Mahsa Amini's 'Murder' Anniversary

May 7, 2026 May 7, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Mehdi Yarahee, a protest singer, was arrested in Tehran after releasing a song supporting women's civil disobedience against compulsory hijab. His arrest follows the killing of two protesters and highlights ongoing unrest in Iran ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. This incident underscores the Iranian government's crackdown on dissent and artistic expression.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The arrest of Mehdi Yarahee underscores the Iranian regime's intolerance of dissenting voices.

👥 Key Players

Mehdi Yarahee (مهدی یراحی) ACTOR
Protest singer
"'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.'"
Mostafa Nili (مصطفی نیلی) QUOTED
Lawyer
"Yarahee's lawyer, Mostafa Nili, confirmed in a tweet that the protest artist was arrested."
Mahsa Amini (مهسا امینی) QUOTED
Symbol of protest
"'Let us be the voice of Izeh and constantly speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.'"
U.S. State Department QUOTED
U.S. government body
"A U.S. State Department official emphasized the necessity of freeing 'all political prisoners' in Iran."
Tomaj Salehi (طومج صالحی) AFFECTED
Protest singer
"Yarahee's arrest comes as other protest singers, Tomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin have been detained for months."
Saman Yasin (سامان یاسین) AFFECTED
Protest singer
"Yarahee's arrest comes as other protest singers, Tomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin have been detained for months."

⚡ Actions

Tehran prosecutor ARREST Mehdi Yarahee
"Yarahee was charged with 'publishing an illegal song contrary to the morals and customs of Islamic society.'"
Confidence: 90%
Mehdi Yarahee PROTEST Iranian authorities
"'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.'"
Confidence: 90%
Mehdi Yarahee ANNOUNCE Iranian public
"'Let us be the voice of Izeh and constantly speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.'"
Confidence: 90%

📰 What Happened

Mehdi Yarahee arrested for protest song, highlighting ongoing unrest in Iran.

  • Tehran prosecutor arrest Mehdi Yarahee
  • Mehdi Yarahee protest Iranian authorities
  • Mehdi Yarahee announce Iranian public

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Because it highlights the ongoing repression of dissent and the government's crackdown on artists.
🌍 Regional: Because it reflects broader regional tensions regarding human rights and freedom of expression.
🌐 International: Because it raises concerns about human rights violations in Iran, prompting international scrutiny.

📚 Background

The arrest of Mehdi Yarahee underscores the Iranian regime's intolerance of dissenting voices.

📝 Key Evidence

"'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.'"
→ This proves Yarahee's defiance against the authorities.
"'Let us be the voice of Izeh and constantly speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.'"
→ This highlights the ongoing protests and the significance of Amini's death.
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 80%
VOA Persian is known for its critical stance towards the Iranian government.

Mehdi Yarahee, a protest singer, was arrested four days after the release of his song 'Rousarito Darbiar' by the order of the Tehran prosecutor. The Mehr News Agency reported on Tuesday, September 6, that Yarahee was charged with 'publishing an illegal song contrary to the morals and customs of Islamic society.' Mehdi Yarahee's lawyer, Mostafa Nili, confirmed in a tweet that the protest artist was arrested on the evening of September 6 in Tehran. In the last message posted on Mehdi Yarahee's personal account on the 'X' messaging platform, it was stated that the account is being managed by an admin. After the announcement of a legal case against him for releasing the song 'Rousarito,' Yarahee tweeted using the hashtag 'Women, Life, Freedom,' saying, 'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.' Yarahee emphasized, 'Let us be the voice of Izeh and constantly speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.' This statement came after reports of the killing of two protesters named Kamar Tahmasbi and Mehdi Almasi in Izeh by the Islamic Republic's forces on the eve of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. An informed source in Iran told Voice of America that 'the revolution that started last year is still ongoing beneath the surface of the city' and that the 'security apparatus' of the Islamic Republic is aware of this. Yarahee's latest work, titled 'Rousarito,' was released on the eve of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, supporting civil disobedience by Iranian women against compulsory hijab. Yarahee's arrest comes as other protest singers, Tomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin (Seydi), have been detained for months. Previously, lyricist and singer Arash Sobhani stated in a special program 'Tomaj and Yasin: The Echo of Imprisonment' on Voice of America that the Islamic Republic wants to intimidate artists so they do not follow the path of Saman Yasin and Tomaj Salehi. A U.S. State Department official emphasized the necessity of freeing 'all political prisoners' in Iran, stating that the U.S. will continue to work with allies to hold Iranian officials accountable for 'gross human rights violations.'

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

📰 Related Coverage

⚖️ Independent Platform — Artesh.com is not affiliated with any government, military, or political organization. Editorial Policy →