Two Shia Authorities in Iran: We Will Prevent Women's Singing

Two Shia authorities in Qom, on Wednesday during their weekly lesson, protested against the approach of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the eleventh government regarding music. According to Tabnak, Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamadani and Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi objected in their advanced jurisprudence classes to the issuance of a permit by the Ministry of Guidance for the release of an album in which, according to them, a woman has sung. Their reference is to the album "To Ra I Kehan Boom o Bar Doost Daram," which was unveiled last week at the Cheshmeh Publishing House. This album, composed by Peyman Khazeni and featuring the simultaneous singing of Mohsen Karamati and Noushin Tafi, is classified in the genre of national music with an orchestral perspective. Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamadani stated in his lesson on Wednesday: "Ordinary conversation of women, adhering to Islamic principles, is not problematic, but singing cannot be normalized by any means, and we will prevent it." According to this Shia authority, the ruling on women's singing and music in front of men, based on the Quran, is "haram" (forbidden), and he emphasized: "The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has no right to do such a thing, and the people will not remain silent." This Qom seminary professor noted: "Any film, festival, book, and music that does not embody revolutionary values will be prevented." Another Shia authority in Qom, Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, also said in his lesson: "Recently, it has been observed that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is trampling on revolutionary values, and complaints about the Ministry are being raised continuously." He addressed the government of Hassan Rouhani, saying: "Do not displease the people, because they are revolutionary and have revolted, and their dissatisfaction will not yield good results for the country; therefore, they must reconsider their actions to keep the people satisfied." These criticisms from the two Shia authorities come while the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had previously provided explanations regarding this album in response to similar criticisms from several members of parliament. Hossein Nooshabadi, the parliamentary assistant and spokesperson for the Ministry of Guidance, was among the officials who commented on the music album "To Ra I Kehan Boom o Bar Doost Daram," stating: "The claim of solo singing by the woman is not true; rather, it is a duet." He emphasized that the album is issued within the framework of the regulations of the Ministry of Guidance and does not contradict its policies. This official of the eleventh government Ministry of Guidance referred to the issuance of permits for "duet" music albums as a precedent. After the explanations from the deputy minister of guidance, the music office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance also provided its explanations in an official statement, stating that this "duet album features the voice of Master Mohsen Karamati, a prominent singer and expert in the traditional music of Iran, and Ms. Noushin Tafi, a well-known and committed artist in Iranian music." The statement from this office noted: "Based on the existing regulations that have been followed since the establishment of the music office, there is no legal prohibition for issuing permits for works that feature male and female duets, and after going through the legal processes, permits for the publication of such works will also be issued." This office emphasized that "so far, no permits for solo performances by women, whether for audio albums or stage performances, have been issued except in the case of special concerts for women." However, it seems that the explanations from the deputy minister of guidance and the statement from the music office of this ministry have not convinced Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamadani and Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi. Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, had previously appeared in the parliament to respond to questions from Hamid Rasayi, a conservative member of parliament, and his answers did not satisfy the representatives, resulting in a yellow card from the parliament. One of the questions and criticisms that brought the minister to parliament was his remarks about solo and group singing by women in front of men, which Mr. Rasayi described as "permissiveness" and "provocative."