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£29.00In southern Iran, many live music events have been cancelled following accusations that they were responsible for a lack of rain in the region. Abdolhossein Ghobishavi, Friday Prayer Imam of the city of Abadan, claimed that these “sinful” concerts had “angered god”. The city’s officials have acted upon this claim and cancelled several of the concert permits that had been granted for events scheduled in February. However, this has gone against an order from the Iranian administration which had instructed officials not to block music events.
Event cancellations are a contentious issue in Iran. Although concerts are allowed, all musicians must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Guidance and Culture to perform and release music. Cultural regulations forbid women from undertaking solo shows, and female performers have been removed or whole shows cancelled even when they have already received permission. In addition, musicians in Iran face severe punishments if their musical work is deemed in violation of Iranian cultural and religious standards.
Two examples of performers being targeted for their work include the singer known as Parastoo Ahmadi. Her video, which featured her performing in an empty venue with her hair uncovered and her shoulders bare, went viral and she faced prosecution for violating cultural laws. Rapper Tataloo received a death sentence for blasphemy. These incidents underline how heavily regulated and politically-charged the music culture is in Iran.
The issue of musical freedom has led to battles between conservatives and moderates. The latest cancellation in southern Iran is just an example of how a religious leader’s viewpoint can override government orders, creating a complicated shift for the music scene in the country. Musicians fear more crackdowns to either block future events or limit licenses further.
Overall, the battle between moderates and conservatives has led to a challenging experience for Iranian musicians. While music events are still permitted, regulations on the type of concert and what is considered acceptable within Iran’s cultural and religious standards make the industry highly sensitive and restricted. As of 2022, the country continues to stifle the musical variety and creative freedom of performers despite a growing demand for Western-inspired music
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