Zeynab Mousavi, Comedian: 'I Will Be in Prison on the Anniversary of the Spring of Freedom'

Zeynab Mousavi, a blogger and comedian known as 'Emperor Kuzco', has been summoned by the judiciary to 'serve her prison sentence'. On Monday, February 5, she posted a picture of her summons on Instagram, stating: 'People think that since I have been to prison before, this time it must not be hard. It must not be important that we endure so much hardship to live in this country that going to prison seems trivial, and we have become hardened against difficulties.' She pointed out that the timing of her sentence coincides with the days when the Islamic Republic celebrates its establishment, adding that she will be in prison on February 11, the anniversary of the Spring of Freedom, and that those of us born after that glorious event have no share in the Spring of Freedom. According to the summons Zeynab Mousavi received on February 4, she has five days to report to the judiciary for 'the execution of the suspension of the sentence and to endure the prison sentence', and 'failure to appear will result in arrest.' Zeynab Mousavi, the creator of the comedic character 'Emperor Kuzco', announced in December 2022 that after her arrest, she spent '25 days in solitary confinement' and was sentenced to 'two years in prison'. The character of Emperor Kuzco was a chador-wearing woman who spoke with a Qom accent. After her release, the comedian stopped producing works featuring this character and wrote 'former emperor' on her new Instagram account. The summons for this comedian to serve her prison sentence comes after she previously indicated that she had been in discussions with 'friends of Mohseni Ejei' for over a month and implied that she was released after expressing regret. Zeynab Mousavi is one of the artists who was arrested for supporting the nationwide protests of 2022. Pressure on dissenting artists in Iran continues, and in the latest event, Vafa Ahmadpour, a rapper known as Vafadar, has been arrested.