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Daniyal Moghaddam, Singer and Actor, Denies Charges and Did Not Attend Court

Jun 4, 2026 June 4, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Daniyal Moghaddam, a singer and actor, has denied charges of promoting corruption and did not attend a court session, citing his artistic activities. He criticized the Iranian regime for exploiting religious beliefs and called for the separation of religion from politics. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between artistic expression and government repression in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The actions of Daniyal Moghaddam symbolize the struggle for freedom of expression in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Daniyal Moghaddam (دانیال مهدی‌زاده) ACTOR
Singer and Actor
"Daniyal Moghaddam denied the charge of 'promoting corruption and prostitution'."
Sahar Zakaria TARGET
Singer
"The summons of Daniyal Moghaddam, Saba Kamali, and Sahar Zakaria."
Saba Kamali TARGET
Singer
"The summons of Daniyal Moghaddam, Saba Kamali, and Sahar Zakaria."
Julie Turbo QUOTED
Director of Artists at Risk
"Julie Turbo emphasized that the Iranian government is afraid of the power of music."

⚡ Actions

Daniyal Moghaddam ANNOUNCE Iranian officials
"Daniyal Moghaddam advised the 'short-sighted officials' of Iran to respect the 'beliefs of the people'."
Confidence: 90%
Daniyal Moghaddam PROTEST Iranian regime
"He turned to singing 'protest songs' after failing to obtain permission."
Confidence: 90%
Iranian authorities SUMMON Daniyal Moghaddam, Sahar Zakaria, Saba Kamali
"The summons of Daniyal Moghaddam, Saba Kamali, and Sahar Zakaria was due to the release of a clip."
Confidence: 90%

📰 What Happened

Daniyal Moghaddam denies charges of corruption while criticizing Iranian officials and the regime.

  • Daniyal Moghaddam announce Iranian officials
  • Daniyal Moghaddam protest Iranian regime
  • Iranian authorities summon Daniyal Moghaddam, Sahar Zakaria, Saba Kamali

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Because it highlights the regime's repression of artistic expression and dissent.
🌍 Regional: Because it reflects broader tensions in Iran regarding human rights and freedom of expression.
🌐 International: Because it underscores the challenges faced by artists and activists in authoritarian regimes.

📚 Background

The actions of Daniyal Moghaddam symbolize the struggle for freedom of expression in Iran.

📝 Key Evidence

"We have nothing left to lose and we are willing to sacrifice our lives."
→ This shows the level of desperation and commitment among artists in Iran.
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 80%
VOA Persian is known for its critical stance towards the Iranian government.

Daniyal Moghaddam, a singer and actor, denied the charge of 'promoting corruption and prostitution' and announced that he refrained from attending the court session on April 12. He stated on his Instagram account that the reason for his summons to judicial authorities was 'artistic activities' and mentioned that given the current conditions in the country, 'we have nothing left to lose' and 'we are willing to sacrifice our lives.' Recently, Voice of America reported exclusively on the summons of Daniyal Moghaddam, Sahar Zakaria, and Saba Kamali, the singers of the music video 'Hoori,' to the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office. The music video 'Hoori' was released last year in criticism of violence against women. Daniyal Moghaddam advised the 'short-sighted officials' of Iran to respect the 'beliefs of the people' and create 'proper conditions' for their lives. The protesting singer and actor also criticized the 'exploitation' of the Iranian regime of the people's religious beliefs, calling for 'separation of religion from politics.' In part of this message, he explained that after failing to obtain permission, he turned to singing 'protest songs.' Daniyal Moghaddam, along with Gholam-Ali Kaveh-Pour, a eulogist from the Iran-Iraq war era, released the music video 'Raees' in the summer of 2023 in criticism of the Islamic Republic's regime. Earlier, Julie Turbo, the director of the 'Artists at Risk' (ARC) group, emphasized that the Iranian government is afraid of the power of music to inspire hope in citizens and to inspire aspirations for a better and fairer future for all, referring to the government's efforts to silence the 'powerful movement of artists advocating for freedom and women's rights.' The summons of Daniyal Moghaddam, Saba Kamali, and Sahar Zakaria was due to the release of a clip on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A Kurdish singer in Ilam was arrested 'for participating in Nowruz celebrations.' Tomaj Salehi's Nowruz message from prison: 'Long live 552 days of the glorious resistance of the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution.'

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

Translation confidence: 85%

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