Court Hearing for 'Rusari To' Singer; Lawyers Demand Mahdi Yarai's Release on Bail

Mahdi Yarai's defense attorney provided details about the status of the case and the three-hour court session following the hearing of the detained singer. According to Zahra Minoui, the court will decide on the request for his release on bail. The court session addressing the charges against Mahdi Yarai, an Iranian pop singer who was arrested in early September, was held in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Zahra Minoui, a lawyer, told 'Shahrvand' on Tuesday, October 16, that in this three-hour session chaired by Iman Afshari, the prosecutor read the indictment, which included charges such as 'encouraging corruption and prostitution, creating and distributing content contrary to public morals and decency, inciting individuals to commit immoral crimes, and propaganda against the regime.' Minoui stated that in the court, which was 'the final hearing,' Mahdi Yarai's father, representatives from the Music House, and several artists were present. She also mentioned, 'After presenting the defenses, the hearing was concluded, and we will likely witness a verdict in the coming days.' Zahra Minoui also emphasized that Mahdi Yarai and his lawyers were 'given the opportunity to present defenses' and 'we were able to submit a defense brief' to the court, stressing that 'positive discussions took place during the hearing,' and the lawyers requested Mahdi Yarai's release 'on bail,' but the presiding judge stated that a decision would be made 'in the coming days.' Mahdi Yarai, a dissenting singer, was arrested four days after the release of the song 'Rusari To' by order of the Tehran prosecutor. The Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday, September 6, that his charge was 'the release of an illegal song contrary to the morals and customs of Islamic society.' This dissenting artist had tweeted before his arrest, after a judicial case was opened against him for releasing the song 'Rusari To,' using the hashtag 'Women, Life, Freedom,' stating, 'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.' Yarai emphasized, 'Let us be the voice of Izzeh and continuously speak of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder.' Additionally, Mustafa Nili, another lawyer for Mahdi Yarai, emphasized on September 19 that 'according to the regulations of the prison organization, the continued detention' of his client 'in quarantine is illegal.' Kati Amiri Younesi, a lawyer, previously told Voice of America that Mahdi Yarai's song 'Rusari To' has been nominated for the 'Best Song for Social Change' Grammy award. She stressed that Mahdi Yarai has been 'our voice' and said that everything we do outside the country costs us time, but those who do this work inside Iran risk their lives. The 'Special Achievement, Best Song for Social Change' award, which is one of the Grammy's special awards, was awarded last year to the song 'Baraye' by Shervin Hajipour. Kati Amiri Younesi expressed hope that Mahdi Yarai would also win a Grammy this year so that 'once again the voice of the Iranian people would become global' and everyone would 'hear it.'