Artists' Reaction to the Implementation of Morteza Yarahy's Whipping Sentence; Anger, Protest, and Solidarity

The implementation of a 74-lash sentence for Morteza Yarahy, an Iranian dissenting singer, has garnered widespread attention in global media and social networks. In recent hours, many artists, cultural figures, athletes, prominent personalities, and human rights activists and organizations have protested against this "inhumane" ruling. This article reviews the statements of several Iranian artists who criticized the Islamic Republic while expressing their support for Morteza Yarahy. Dariush Eghbali, a singer, shared a story on his Instagram account featuring an image of Morteza Yarahy along with a piece from the song "Don't Be Afraid," which says: 'Neither arrows nor daggers, nor gallows nor prisons, don't scare the stars from the night.' Mohammad Rasoulof, a filmmaker, posted on Instagram, writing: 'Dear Morteza, you know well that the lashes that fell on your body are not a sign of power but a sign of fear. Your voice has shaken the crumbling walls of religious tyranny, and now millions of Iranians hum your songs.' He added: 'Their tools of repression become more discredited every day. We will not go back; against the savagery of this repressive power, we still have art.' Mojgan Shajarian, a singer, shared a video of Morteza Yarahy on her Instagram story, writing: 'O great man of truth and courage, the pain of every unjust lash that struck your steadfast body has settled upon our souls, and the beautiful narrative of your breath has become a balm for the wounds of the lashes of every day upon our suffering bodies.' She continued: 'I bow in respect to your courage, steadfastness, and pride, which stand like a mountain, brotherly behind all your compatriot sisters.' Hamed Fard, a protest rapper, shared an image of Morteza Yarahy on Instagram, writing: 'Dear Morteza Yarahy, today when I heard the news of the unjust 74 lashes on your body, it felt as if each lash fell upon the soul and heart of every single person in this land. You, who have always been the voice of the voiceless, stood by the people and defended the women of your land; today you paid the price for your truthfulness and honor with cruel wounds.' He added: 'But know that these wounds have not settled on you; this pain is a wound on the spirit of all of us.' Saba Zamani and Arad Hatem, Iranian singers, released a short musical piece with poetry by Seyyed Mahdi Mousavi in support of Morteza Yarahy on social media, writing: 'Nothing will bring us down, neither lashes, nor prison, nor bullets and batons and executions; we are Iran.' Taraneh Alidoosti, an actress, wrote on her Instagram story: 'Shame on backwardness, shame on torture, shame on violence, shame on inhumane laws, and shame and disgrace on our impotence.' Tomaj Salehi, a protest rapper, stated in his Instagram story: 'Unfortunately, the Stone Age ruling of 74 lashes for our noble and brave brother Morteza Yarahy has been executed.' He praised Mr. Yarahy, saying: 'Someone whose entire life has been an honor for this homeland... someone who has always supported his people.' Salehi also emphasized that this singer remains resilient after the ruling: 'Of course, Morteza is stronger than before and has not even groaned. Sometimes wounds make a person stronger, depending on the person.' Hengameh Ghaziani, an actress, wrote in her Instagram story: 'Your pain is upon my soul, brother; you stood on the hills of Golgotha, and the moon wept, and Iran bled for your wounds, for the tear that did not become rain.' Hamid Saidi, a musician and composer, shared an image of Morteza Yarahy on Instagram, writing: 'The cause of all the people's problems has been punished, and from tomorrow everything in our country will be set right; truly, shame on you.' Hamid Farokhnejad, an actor, posted on Instagram: 'Dear Morteza, you are now in the heart of a nation, greater than ever, not as a singer, but as a freedom seeker who did not remain silent against oppression and has become immortal in the history of this country with courage.' He added: 'You have shown that we are all children of Iran and fight for the freedom of Iran regardless of linguistic and ethnic differences; thank you, my friend, you have honored Khuzestan and our Arab compatriots, and with the will of your art, you have captured the demon of art that fights against the light of your thought.' Mahnaz Afshar, an actress, wrote on Instagram: 'More than the people, it is the artists themselves who should break their silence against the oppression inflicted on their colleague and extend a helping hand.' She added: 'Of course, there were artists who stood in solidarity and were punished in silence, but we must stay together so that we do not become trapped in this dark and despicable cycle.' Mahnaz Afshar, referring to the fact that people have shown their support for years, urges artists to raise their voices in support of their colleague and to shout for justice like Morteza Yarahy and many others. Ali Azimi, a singer, shared an image of Morteza Yarahy on Instagram, writing: 'Dear Morteza, you are an example of resilience in the heart and mind of a nation; one hair of yours is worth the sacrifice of all the stage men who did not defend the right of women in our country to sing and colluded with the corrupt regime of the Islamic Republic to bring their vulgar performances to the stage.' He added: 'Your courage and steadfastness will be a guiding light for future generations.' Daniel Moghadam, a rapper currently serving an unjust sentence with an electronic ankle bracelet, protested against the conditions and the implementation of Morteza Yarahy's whipping sentence in an Instagram video. He wrote alongside the video: 'Did you whip Morteza Yarahy, our comrade who has been breaking his fast with the sound of the call to prayer for years, during Ramadan? May your prayers and fasting be upon you; what are you doing to the artists and the honorable people of this land? Damn you.' Morteza Yarahy, a well-known dissenting singer, after the implementation of his 74-lash sentence by the judiciary, emphasized in a statement that the 'price of freedom' must be paid. On Wednesday, March 6, in reaction to enduring 74 lashes at the hands of the Islamic Republic's judicial authorities, he implicitly deemed the whipping punishment ineffective by recalling a piece from his protest song 'Song of Life,' which he sang during the nationwide protests of 2022. Mr. Yarahy had also previously stated: 'I have been deprived and banned from working for more than six years, while it is my right to hold concerts in my own land. However, this additional suffering has made me understand more deeply what injustices women in my land endure simply because of their gender. I will not turn back from this awareness and will stand alongside the women of my land.' Morteza Yarahy was arrested in September 2023 for singing the protest song 'Your Headscarf' in his home, which he performed in support of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and in protest against the mandatory hijab law in Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced him to two years and eight months of imprisonment and 74 lashes.