Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour, known for his song Baraye, which became an anthem of the “Women, Life, Liberty” protests in 2022, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to write a song against the US.
Hajipour was found guilty of publishing “propaganda against the regime” and “inciting people to disturbances with the intention of disrupting the security of the country.”
He was also mandated to share the “achievements of the [Islamic] Revolution” on social media, provide summaries of specific books, and participate in a course on behavioral skills and art knowledge.
Despite his sentence, Hajipour expressed gratitude to his lawyers and refrained from revealing the names of the judge and prosecutor involved in his case to prevent them from facing any threats or attacks.
“One day we will understand each other, until that day,” concluded Hajipour.
The court noted that Hajipour showed no remorse for his actions and that expert guidance had not influenced his behavior positively.
The anthem of the ‘Woman, Life, Liberty’ protests
In 2022, protests erupted in Iran following the arrest and death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman, at the hands of “morality police” officers in Tehran. These protests, known as the “Woman, Life, Liberty” protests, garnered global attention as demonstrators clashed with security forces openly.
Hajipour’s song Baraye, which won an award for Best Song For Social Change, features tweets from Iranians during the protests, emphasizing themes of freedom and empowerment.
