Hiva Seyfizadeh, Singer, Arrested During Performance in Tehran

Hiva Seyfizadeh, a singer, musician, and actress, was arrested on Thursday, March 9, during her concert in Tehran. Ms. Seyfizadeh was performing at the 'Omrat Robro' center when she was detained by security forces along with her group. Following the news of the arrest of this female singer and musician on social media, the cultural complex 'Omrat Robro' announced on Instagram that it would be closed 'until further notice.' The reason for the arrest of Hiva Seyfizadeh and her group remains unclear, despite having a permit to hold the concert, and there is no information on the detaining authority. However, a music journalist on X stated that the arrest of this female singer was due to a 'rumor about holding the first concert of a female singer for men.' Hiva Seyfizadeh had released songs without mandatory hijab in support of protesters during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. Following the protests that began after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, many female artists in Iran joined these protests, and many of them were arrested or banned from working by the government. Last December, Parastoo Ahmadi and her group were also arrested for performing a 'hypothetical concert' in a caravanserai without government permission and without adhering to mandatory hijab. In response to this incident, the House of Music of Iran issued a statement referring to the arrests of the 'hypothetical concert' crew and the pressures on other artists, calling for an end to the restrictions. On Friday, coinciding with the news of Hiva Seyfizadeh's arrest, Mehdi Yarahee, a protesting singer who was sentenced to prison and lashes for supporting the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, announced in a video that he was ready to carry out his lash sentence in order to be released from his heavy bail, but judicial authorities have refused to address his case. He further stated that during the approximately seven years of his ban from activity, he has understood the 'double suffering' that 'the women of my land endure from pain and suffering.' Mr. Yarahee added that for this reason, he is no longer willing to seek permits for work and activity as he did in the past and will not use 'gender rent' as a man to hold concerts.