Nazanin Boniadi Criticizes Sentencing of Shervin Hajipour: The Regime Clearly Fears Artists

Nazanin Boniadi, a renowned actress and human rights activist, criticized the prison sentence issued for Shervin Hajipour, stating, "The regime clearly fears artists." In a note on the social media platform 'X', Ms. Boniadi emphasized, "Art is a crime in the Islamic Republic." Shervin Hajipour, whose protest song "Baraye" gained widespread acclaim during the nationwide protests of 2022 and became an anthem for the demonstrators, has been sentenced to imprisonment and additional penalties by the court. According to court documents, Shervin Hajipour, who did not express remorse, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison and a two-year travel ban for charges of "propaganda against the regime" and "inciting and provoking people to riots with the intent of undermining national security." Following the publication of the court document regarding his conviction, Shervin Hajipour wrote, "I sacrifice for a strand of your hair." After the release of the song "Baraye," he was arrested, and the video of this song was also removed from his Instagram page. This song earned Shervin Hajipour the prestigious Grammy Award in the category of "Song for Social Change." Time magazine named Shervin Hajipour as one of the 100 most influential people of 2023. The conviction of Shervin Hajipour; Hamid Saidi: The Islamic Republic cannot silence protest music artists. Shervin Hajipour was sentenced to prison and for making music against America. Shervin Hajipour, the singer of the protest song "Baraye," was summoned to court again. The nomination proposal for Mehdi Yarahy for the Grammy Award has been submitted to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.