Iran will come before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) this week, on 24 January, a critical moment for assessing the country’s human rights record. The UPR is a UN process under which the human rights records of all UN Member States are reviewed every four and a half years. The Iranian government will present its report on adherence to UN human rights conventions, and Member States will respond with recommendations regarding shortcomings and suggestions for improvement. Freemuse takes this opportunity to raise the situation of artists at risk in Iran and urges that artistic freedom of expression be among the issues highlighted.
In Iran, artistic expression has become an extraordinary act of defiance. Artists face incredible risks—imprisonment, exile, even death—but they refuse to stay silent. Iranian artists face incredible risks—imprisonment, exile, even death—but they refuse to stay silent. On 19 January, Iranian singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, better known as Tataloo, was sentenced to death for blasphemy after a court overturned his earlier five-year prison sentence. The charges stem from accusations of insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, though the ruling can still be appealed. Tataloo, 37, was extradited from Istanbul in 2023 and has been in detention ever since, facing additional charges including promoting “prostitution” and spreading propaganda. Meanwhile, the regime’s crackdown has been particularly brutal against those linked to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, such as rapper Toomaj Salehi, whose release on 1 December 2024 after 753 days in prison felt like a rare victory in an otherwise grim landscape.
Underground cinema has also emerged as a bold front for resistance. Defying censorship, filmmakers have tackled issues like women’s rights and systemic injustice. Films like My Favorite Cake earned international acclaim but led to bans and charges against their creators. Cannes-winning filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof was forced into exile after facing severe penalties, a stark reminder of the high stakes for Iranian artists who refuse to stay silent.
Musicians, especially protest rappers, have also faced relentless persecution. Zara Esmaeili was arrested for singing in public, and Parastoo Ahmadi, who live-streamed a hijab-free concert on YouTube, faced similar reprisals. Rappers such as Saman Yasin and Shervin Hajipour endured imprisonment and torture, with Hajipour’s Grammy-winning anthem Baraye becoming a global symbol of the movement. Others, like Behrad Azargan and Vafa Ahmadpour, were jailed for their music, exposing the regime’s desperation to silence dissent in all its forms.
Cartoonist and activist Atena Farghadani, another victim of the crackdown, was freed on 10 December after being sentenced to six years—five for “insulting religious sanctities” and one for “spreading propaganda.” Her charges were later revised, but her trial underscores the regime’s increasing intolerance.
Yet, even under this crushing weight, Iran’s artists remain a force of hope. Their resilience—lifted by global solidarity and advocacy—continues to inspire change. As the world watches, their voices remind us that creativity is not just an act of expression, but a powerful tool in the fight for freedom.
Source: FreeMuse