Vafa Ahmadpour, Arrested Rapper: I'm Not Worried About Myself; I Sacrifice for Iran

Vafa Ahmadpour, the detained protesting rapper, stated in a voice message how one can witness the protests of fellow citizens in the streets and remain silent. In this voice message published by the legal consultation website Dadban on Tuesday, February 6, Ahmadpour expresses concern for his family but says he is not worried about himself and 'sacrifices for Iran.' Ahmadpour, known by his stage name 'Vafadar,' was arrested on Sunday evening, February 5. He had previously announced that his family had been taken hostage by the Islamic Republic authorities. In his voice message, he asks, 'Is life worth it if I see my compatriots protesting in the streets and they are labeled as rioters?' According to Dadban, 40-year-old Vafadar, who has been making a living through labor, has been active in rap and hip-hop music for the past 17 years. Before his arrest, he emphasized in a video that he has said nothing but 'justice' and protested against 'discrimination and inequality,' and as 'part of the people,' he could not remain silent when he saw 'rights being denied.' The arrest and prosecution of artists supporting protesters have intensified, especially after the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Among the singers arrested after the nationwide protests are Saman Saidi (Yasin), Mehdi Yarahee, and Tomaj Salehi. Asghar Nikookar, a tar player residing in Zarqan County in Fars Province, who played music on the graves of those who lost their lives in the nationwide protests of 2022, is currently imprisoned in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. According to the human rights organization, Hrana, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz has sentenced this musician to six years in prison on charges of 'assembly and collusion' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Tomaj Salehi's account states that the reintroduction of previous charges is illegal. 152 citizens have been arrested in Iran by security forces in one month, with several protesters, students, and artists being detained and sentenced in Iran. Mehdi Yarahee's lawyer reported the issuance of a prison and flogging sentence for this artist.