Shervin Hajipour's Lawyer Calls for Acquittal After Use of 'Baraye' Song in Elections

The lawyer of Shervin Hajipour, the protest singer who was sentenced to prison and additional penalties for performing the song 'Baraye', expressed surprise in a letter to the head of the judiciary regarding the song's use in election campaigns. Majid Kaveh, a lawyer, wrote to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on Saturday, July 2, pointing out the contradictions in Hajipour's sentencing for the song, stating, 'How can a song that was deemed to promote anti-regime activities and incite people to war in October 2022 now encourage maximum voter turnout 21 months later?' Kaveh noted that his client is facing legal action for producing this piece, while some candidates' election headquarters are not only playing 'Baraye' but have also adopted it as their campaign slogan. He requested the annulment of Hajipour's conviction and an acquittal, reminding the judiciary that Hajipour's case is pending in the appeals court despite being clearly eligible for a pardon issued in February 2023. The use of 'Baraye' in the campaign of presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has sparked significant reactions, with social media users identifying as 2022 protesters accusing Pezeshkian of exploiting the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and the song for votes. Conversely, some regime supporters labeled the song as representative of what they call 'riots' and criticized Pezeshkian for using it. In 'Baraye', Hajipour addresses the concerns of the Iranian people, including economic issues, class disparities, social pressures, and environmental problems, drawing inspiration from social media posts. After the song's release in 2022, he was arrested and held for a time, being released on bail on October 12 of the same year. Hajipour was sentenced to three years in prison by the Revolutionary Court for charges such as 'propaganda against the regime' and 'inciting and provoking people to riots to disrupt national security.' He also faced additional penalties including 'creating music against American crimes' and a travel ban. Notably, Hajipour's single was awarded the Grammy for Best Song in the 'Song for Social Change' category at the 65th Grammy Awards.