Court Rejects Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Complaint Against IRIB

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's lawyer announced that the court has rejected his client's complaint against the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) regarding the unauthorized broadcast of his works after nine years. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi stated in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday, September 4, that the judicial interpretation and the judge's perspective were that IRIB did not do anything wrong and that the broadcast may have even benefited his client. He emphasized that the Ministry of Culture had also confirmed that the rights to the broadcast works belong to Shajarian. According to Aghasi, the investigating judge initially rejected the complaint, but after the prosecutor's objection, the 1060th branch of the Government Employees Court ultimately stated in 2011 that IRIB was aware that it needed to obtain the creator's consent for publication. The report indicates that after six years, the court session was held, and the judge declared that IRIB did not do anything wrong and that the broadcast of Shajarian's works had 'enhanced his fame and was not to his detriment.' Aghasi had previously reported that the first court session was held on September 2, 110 months after the complaint was filed. In 2009, Shajarian had written a letter to the then-head of IRIB, Ezzatollah Zarghami, requesting that his voice and works not be broadcast on any radio or television units. In this letter, he stated that the songs he had sung, especially the anthem 'Ey Iran, Ey Saraye Omid,' belonged to the years 1978 and 1979 and had 'no relation to current conditions.' Following this, Shajarian filed a complaint against IRIB. The renowned Iranian traditional music artist has criticized the Iranian government's treatment of protesters following the 2009 presidential election results in various interviews. In 2010, he stated in an interview with Australia's SBS television that when Ahmadinejad referred to those who protested as 'dust and debris,' he declared, 'I am the voice of this dust and debris.' Amid the crackdown following the 2009 election, Shajarian released the song 'Zaban-e Atash' (Put Down Your Gun), which supporters of the Green Movement created several clips from. He explained his reasons for releasing this song, saying, 'You cannot talk with fire. There is no logic in a bullet... With this song, I asked those who held guns and shot at the people to put down their guns.' In November 2009, upon returning to Iran, Shajarian was interrogated for two and a half hours by security agents at Imam Khomeini Airport. Before his complaint against IRIB, the Kayhan newspaper labeled him a 'traitor.' Shajarian has also filed a complaint against this newspaper, stating that no report about the court's formation has been published. On Sunday, Shajarian's lawyer also reported on Twitter that during the court session regarding his complaint against IRIB, he was 'threatened with arrest.' He did not specify which authority or entity made the threat. In early 2016, Shajarian announced through a video that he was suffering from a long-term illness. During this time, he has not engaged in musical activities. His son, Homayoun Shajarian, stated that his father's cancer is under control, but concerns remain.