Response from a Ministry of Culture Official to the Arrest of Mahdi Yarahee: I Can't Do Anything

A senior official from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance reacted to the arrest of Mahdi Yarahee, a singer, stating, "When our artist believes that his work is a form of struggle and demand for rights, I cannot do anything for him." Mahmoud Salari, in an interview with the newspaper 'Farhikhtegan' published on Tuesday, spoke about Yarahee's arrest and the 'position of the ministry,' saying: 'This decision was made by the judicial authority for him. We can go and talk, but when someone does not want to accept a word, I cannot do anything for him.' The artistic deputy of the Ministry of Guidance in Ebrahim Raisi's government emphasized that many artists have had 'explanatory sessions.' He said, 'When our artist believes that his work is a form of struggle and demand for rights, I cannot do anything for him.' This government official referred to artists who participated in last year's protests, stating, 'Some of them were caught up in the moment or acted under pressure.' Salari mentioned that a meeting was held 'on the upper floor of the Vahdat Hall' with 'a number of artists' where 'they were explained what is happening,' saying: 'We asked them to be careful and not to be pushed forward.' This Ministry of Guidance official also reported on 'invitations, meetings, speeches, and film screenings' aimed at 'justifying' artists, which were held by 'security institutions.' Salari emphasized that 'some of our artist friends' 'generally did not accept our words.' At the beginning of September, a new work by Mahdi Yarahee titled 'Your Scarf' was released on the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of 'Gasht-e Ershad,' supporting civil disobedience by Iranian women against compulsory hijab, which sparked widespread reactions. Shortly after the release of this protest work, Islamic Republic officials threatened Mahdi Yarahee with 'judicial action,' although the singer posted a message on his personal account on the X messaging platform (Twitter) using the hashtag '#Mahsa_Amini,' stating: 'Don't cry, I am the nightmare of this judge.' The judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced last Tuesday, September 6, the news of Mahdi Yarahee's arrest. Yarahee's arrest has faced reactions from many cultural, artistic, and political activists. Mohsen Chavoshi, Taraneh Alidoosti, Mina Daris, Sepideh Ghalean, Ashkan Khatibi, Narges Mohammadi, and dozens of civil activists and artists inside and outside Iran reacted to the arrest of singer Mahdi Yarahee and condemned it. In this context, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council also criticized the arrest of Mahdi Yarahee, a government-critical singer in Iran, calling it a violation of human rights and freedom of expression. Michelle Taylor, on Friday, September 10, described the arrest of this protesting singer as 'an overt disregard by the Iranian regime for human rights and freedom of expression.' This U.S. official cited the Islamic Republic's treatment of Mahdi Yarahee as further evidence of the regime's unfitness to assume the presidency of one of the subsidiary assemblies of the upcoming United Nations meeting in New York. A wave of support from artists for Mahdi Yarahee; Reyhaneh Parsa also published a brief message. Ashkan Khatibi supported Mahdi Yarahee by revisiting the song 'Your Scarf.' Mina Daris sang in Arabic in memory of Mahdi Yarahee: 'Enough of the sleep of negligence, rise up.' There have been widespread reactions to the arrest of Mahdi Yarahee; a singer who preferred to be dignified offstage. On the line: Mahdi Yarahee, from the stage to prison for the people. The U.S. permanent representative to the Human Rights Council: The arrest of Mahdi Yarahee is a violation of freedom of expression. Narges Mohammadi: The song 'Take Off Your Scarf' by Mahdi Yarahee was a disaster for the authoritarian religious government. A letter from Sepideh Ghalean to 'Mahdi Yarahee': I saw your place in the hearts of the people. Mohsen Chavoshi and Mohsen Namjoo condemned the arrest of Mahdi Yarahee: You are a fighter. Widespread domestic and foreign reactions to the arrest of Mahdi Yarahee; someone who stands with his people is not alone.