Iran's House of Music Protests Concert Cancellations and Arrests of Artists

The House of Music in Iran, referring to the arrest of the team behind the 'Hypothetical Concert' and pressures on other artists, has called for an end to restrictions. The board of the House of Music in a statement released on Sunday, December 16, mentioned the arrest of Parastoo Ahmadi and two accompanying musicians in the 'Hypothetical Concert.' Ms. Ahmadi held a music program titled 'Hypothetical Concert' last week in one of Iran's caravanserais without mandatory hijab, which received widespread acclaim upon the release of its video. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic immediately filed charges against this music group, and on Saturday, Parastoo Ahmadi along with Soheil Faghih Nasiri and Ehsan Birghdar, three members of this group, were arrested; it was later announced that all three were released early Sunday morning. The lawyer of Parastoo Ahmadi reported her and the concert musicians' release. The House of Music also referred to other issues faced by musicians, including the imprisonment of Khashayar Safidi and the cancellation of the 'Naghshe' group's concert in Isfahan. Khashayar Safidi, a music student expelled from Tehran University of Art, was sentenced to one year in prison for protesting the death sentence issued for Tomaj Salehi, with the execution of his sentence starting on November 17. The 'Naghshe' group's concert was scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday in Isfahan, but despite having received permission and tickets being sold, the concert was canceled due to the presence of a female musician in the group. In its statement, the House of Music protested these issues and urged the government of Masoud Pezeshkian to address the demands of musicians, particularly the prohibition of activities for female artists. This professional body also criticized the 'personal tastes of some officials' and their disrespect for issued permits, calling it 'the double standards present in cultural policymaking.' The Minister of Culture's response to the continued illegal cancellations of concerts was that they have instructed to follow up on the matter. Activities in the music sector in Iran have faced numerous restrictions over the past four decades, and pressures have intensified following the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. A few weeks ago, Mohsen Sharifian, a researcher of regional music and a musician from the 'Lian' music group, reported that the concert programs of this group in East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, and Khuzestan provinces were canceled despite having received permits from the Ministry of Culture.