Shervin Hajipour says he was sentenced to greater than three years in jail for ‘inciting folks to riot’.
An Iranian singer whose track turned an anthem through the 2022 mass protests has been sentenced to greater than three years in jail for “inciting and frightening folks to riot to disturb nationwide safety”, the 26-year-old artist posted on his Instagram account on Friday.
Shervin Hajipour received Grammys for the track Baraye (“For”) which supported the protests triggered by the demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini was detained for allegedly not carrying an acceptable hijab (headband), which is necessary within the nation.
It was not instantly clear when the decision was issued, and it was not reported elsewhere. Iranian state-run media additionally didn’t report the sentencing.
However Hajipour posted it on the identical day that Iran held its parliamentary elections. Voting counting is underneath manner within the first elections because the nationwide protests.
Hajipour thanked his legal professionals and his agent for his or her assist.
“I can’t point out the identify of the decide and the prosecutor in order that they don’t get insulted and threatened, as a result of insults and threats are usually not within the faith of humanity,” he wrote. “Lastly, someday we are going to perceive one another. Till then.”
The singer already had served some jail time, however was out on bail pending the court docket’s determination. It was unclear if he had already reported to serve his sentence. Beneath Iranian regulation, jail sentences run concurrently, which means Hajipour would serve three years behind bars.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York didn’t reply to a request for remark.
“Baraye” was performed at a White Home celebration in March 2023 marking Nowruz, the Persian New 12 months.
A month earlier, US First Girl Jill Biden awarded Hajipour a particular Grammy for greatest track for social change, calling the tune a “highly effective and poetic name for freedom and ladies’s rights”.
Amini’s demise sparked months-long protests which noticed a whole lot of individuals, together with dozens of safety forces, killed, and hundreds of others arrested.
Hajipour’s sentencing comes as different activists, journalists and artists have confronted arrest, imprisonment and harassment because the demonstrations. Amongst these imprisoned is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.