By Shervin Hajipour, the Iranian Grammy Award-winning musician, announced Monday that he has been pardoned from serving a three-year sentence for his song “Baraye,” which became an anthem during the 2022 protests in Iran.
Hajipour, who received his Grammy in 2023 from U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, shared the news through an emotional video story on Instagram. “A new order had been issued regarding amnesty, and it included my case which has been completely dismissed,” he said, adding that he learned of the case dismissal on Sunday.
The song “Baraye,” which means “For” in English, captured the spirit of the protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini had been detained for allegedly not wearing her mandatory hijab properly. The lyrics of “Baraye” include lines such as “For dancing in the streets” and “for the fear we feel when we kiss,” directly addressing the reasons young Iranians cited for protesting against the country’s ruling theocracy.
The 2022 protests quickly escalated into widespread calls for the overthrow of Iran’s clerical rulers. The government’s subsequent crackdown resulted in more than 500 deaths and over 22,000 detentions, according to human rights organizations.
Hajipour’s pardon comes as part of a larger amnesty order issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, which pardoned or commuted the sentences of 2,887 prisoners. It remains unclear whether Hajipour’s case was specifically included in this amnesty order.
Two months prior to this announcement, Hajipour had stated that he was ordered to begin serving a sentence of three years and eight months, which a court had handed down in March. The musician had previously spent time in prison but was released on bail in 2023 pending the court’s final decision.
The pardon of Hajipour is seen by many as a significant development in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. His song “Baraye” not only became a rallying cry for demonstrators within Iran but also garnered international attention, highlighting the aspirations and frustrations of young Iranians.
The decision to pardon Hajipour may be interpreted as an attempt by Iranian authorities to ease tensions and project a more conciliatory image, both domestically and internationally. However, human rights organizations continue to express concern over the broader issues of freedom of expression and political dissent in Iran.
As news of Hajipour’s pardon spreads, it is likely to reignite discussions about the ongoing impact of the 2022 protests and the role of art and music in political movements. The case also underscores the complex relationship between artists, political expression, and state authority in Iran.
While Hajipour’s pardon brings relief to his supporters, many activists and human rights advocates continue to call for the release of other detained protesters and for broader reforms in Iran’s justice system and political structure.
