Minister of Culture: Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Treatment Will Continue at Home

Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated that following Mohammad Reza Shajarian's return to Iran, the maestro's treatment will continue at his home. On September 18, Mr. Jannati told reporters, 'With the help of the Minister of Health, medical equipment has been installed in his home so that he can receive treatment there.' The Minister mentioned that his ministry had been 'informed about the treatment' while Mr. Shajarian was abroad. Homayoun Shajarian, the son of the Iranian maestro, announced on social media on Saturday that 'Thank God, his condition is much better than in previous months. Accordingly, doctors allowed him to fly back home to continue this phase of treatment.' He also thanked the responsible officials who 'did not spare any effort to resolve travel issues until his father arrived in Iran.' News of Mohammad Reza Shajarian's illness was first revealed during his Nowruz message at the beginning of 1395 (2016); he appeared in a video with a shaved head and stated that he had been suffering from illness for 15 years. In July of this year, Homayoun Shajarian wrote on his Instagram that his father had completed the first phase of treatment after a five-month stay in the United States. He mentioned that his father has been diagnosed with cancer. Hamid Reza Nourbakhsh, the CEO of the House of Music, also recently reported on the continuation of Mr. Shajarian's treatment, stating that the medical team in the U.S. has said that the first phase of chemotherapy has been completed and that after recovery, further treatment stages will continue. Mohammad Reza Shajarian is one of the most renowned and prominent figures in Iranian traditional music and singing. He has faced challenges in releasing his works following his stances on the results of the 2009 presidential election, which led to widespread protests in Iran. After that incident, Iranian state radio and television officials prevented the broadcast of the famous prayer 'Rabbana,' which had been aired for years with Mr. Shajarian's voice.