Hadi Laveh, a singer from Oshnaviyeh, arrested with 'violence'

Hadi Laveh, an artist and singer from Oshnaviyeh, was arrested with 'violence' in the early hours of Wednesday, April 12. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, government agents cited 'singing political anthems' as the reason for the arrest of this Kurdish artist. The report states that no information has been released about the arresting agency or the location where Hadi Laveh is being held. So far, several artists and singers critical of the Islamic Republic have faced pressure from government intelligence agencies, leading to summonses, arrests, or imprisonment, and even facing death sentences. In recent weeks, judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have sentenced the protesting rapper Tomaj Salehi to death and Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin to five years in prison and exile. The Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran, in a statement, regarded the widespread suppression of artists as a sign of 'the Islamic regime's fear of freedom of art and expression.' Amnesty International announced in its annual report on Tuesday, April 4, that the Islamic Republic has increasingly restricted the freedom of expression of the Iranian people in the past year. Protests against Tomaj's death sentence have described him as 'the voice of the revolution' and 'the awakener of the dormant melody in the throats' of Iranians. The second trial session of 'Tataloo' was held in the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Saman Yasin's five-year exile sentence in Kerman; the lawyer of this imprisoned artist stated: 'I will protest.' Exclusively, the creators of the music video 'Hoori' have been summoned to court again.