Crackdown in Iran Intensifies on dissident rappers

The repression of rappers in Iran continues unabated, with at least three individuals recently arrested, underscoring the ongoing suppression of artistic expression and dissent in Iran.

Iranian rappers have faced continuous suppression by authorities since the genre first emerged in the 2000s. The crackdowns intensified following Iran's 2009 Green Movement protests and have reached new heights in the aftermath of the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, ignited by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in morality police custody.

On Sunday, reports emerged of the arrest of Iranian rapper and blogger Vahid Nemati on election day, Friday.

Following reports of Nemati's arrest on June 28, coinciding with Iran’s snap presidential election, all the posts on his Instagram page, including the video, were taken down. A notice was posted stating, "This page has been blocked by the order of the respected judicial authority." 

Such notices are common following the arrests of influencers in Iran. A similar notice was posted on Iranian rapper Dorcci's Instagram page when he was arrested in August 2023 following the release of a viral song.

However, shortly after news of his arrest surfaced, a video of Nemati was released in which he claimed he was at home and had not been detained, explaining that his Instagram account was merely being "assessed." 

Forcing individuals to record videos of themselves is a common tactic used by Iranian authorities to suppress news, particularly as the government seeks to control the narrative during the widely boycotted election season.

Additionally, on Sunday, the Human Rights Activist Network in Iran (HRANA) reported that Iranian pop singer, Mohammad Fathi, was summoned to the Evin courthouse for publishing a song on his Instagram page in support of Iran’s Woman Life Freedom uprising. He was charged with “propaganda against the state” and later released on bail.

On May 9, two Iranian rappers, Vafa Ahmadpour and Danial Maghaddam were arrested after the release of a music video titled “Standy” criticizing the government on their Instagram pages.

Similarly in the past, Iranian rapper Shahin Najafi living in Germany was threatened with a death sentence Fatwa with a $100,000 bounty to anyone who would kill him. 

Despite the threats, Najafi too continues to use his platform to release content in support of the Iranian people. As such transnational repression of dissident artists is rife even outside Iran.