Daniel Moghadam Sentenced to One Year in Prison with Electronic Bracelet

Daniel Moghadam, an Iranian protest rapper, announced on Saturday, February 23, via a message on his Instagram account, that he has been informed of a one-year prison sentence with an "electronic bracelet." Along with sharing an image of the execution order, he wrote: "This letter is my record, Daniel Moghadam, for the crime of loving art and my homeland, I must endure a one-year sentence with an electronic bracelet." The young rapper added that he is also banned from any activity in cyberspace for two years, his passport has been revoked, and he is prohibited from leaving the country. Daniel Moghadam stated that he has been generally "banned from activity" due to the restrictions imposed by the Iranian government. He expressed regret that domestic media have labeled him, and thanked foreign media and the "noble people of Iran" for their support. Daniel Moghadam emphasized that he still breathes for the love of the people and continues to strive. He wrote: "Never forget how much blood has been shed for this homeland and what happened to those who fought for it to remain; this sacred land must be protected." According to the image of the ruling that this young rapper published on Instagram, the Fars Prosecutor's Office has assigned the execution of this sentence to the 22nd Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Tehran, and Daniel Moghadam will serve his sentence under the supervision of this judicial body. He was arrested on charges including "propaganda against the regime" and "collusion to commit a crime against national and foreign security." Daniel Moghadam and Vafa Ahmadpour, known as "Vafadar," were arrested by the Iranian government forces in Shiraz on May 9 of this year and transferred to the Shiraz Intelligence Department's detention center known as Plate 100. After a short period, they were moved to the central detention center of the city located in the "Adelabad" prison. Daniel Moghadam was released from prison last August after posting bail and was subsequently sentenced to one year in prison, a two-year exit ban, and a two-year ban on activities in cyberspace. Daniel Moghadam and Vafa Ahmadpour were arrested after performing a song titled "Ready" in Shiraz. The two protest rappers criticized the Islamic Republic and the crises in the country and the problems faced by the Iranian people in the song "Ready," which was filmed at the ancient site of Persepolis. Nasir Mashkouri, a music expert and author of the book "The Hip-Hop Generation," told Voice of America about this song: "The era of demands and requests in Iranian protest music is over. Today, in the music of resistance, specifically in this song by Daniel and Vafadar, we hear calls for unity, system change, and readiness for a revolutionary struggle against the system." He adds: "In the recent rap song by Daniel Moghadam and Vafadar, we hear a rap written about the readiness of an explosive society against a corrupt and undemocratic regime for change. In fact, it speaks of revolution, not merely social protest." Nasir Mashkouri discusses the violent repression of the Islamic Republic and the arrest and imprisonment of these rappers, saying: "Perhaps this repression may work in the short term, but the more repression and censorship there is, the more desperate individuals will take the microphone, and this movement will continue." He refers to the death sentence issued for Tomaj Salehi, saying: "Did this sentence prevent Daniel and Vafadar? On the contrary, it encouraged them. I think this issue should be viewed from a social perspective. Did the repression of the Mahsa movement prevent the next uprising? In fact, Daniel and Vafadar's movement proved that, no, we will soon witness another uprising." In recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken security and judicial actions against protest singers.