Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour, who was sentenced to prison for his Mahsa Amini protest anthem, has reportedly been pardoned after the two-year anniversary of Amini’s death last week. Hajipour, a Grammy Award winner, faced a three-year sentence for his song ‘Baraye,’ which became an anthem for the 2022 protests following Amini’s death in police custody. The song highlighted the reasons young Iranians protested against Iran’s ruling theocracy, calling for freedom and women’s rights.
Hajipour announced on Instagram that a new order of amnesty included his case, leading to the dismissal of his sentence. US first lady Jill Biden awarded him the Grammy’s new song for social change special merit award, praising the power and message of his song. The protests sparked by Amini’s death resulted in a security crackdown that left over 500 people dead and more than 22,000 detained.
Last week marked the two-year anniversary of Amini’s death, with continued protests and acts of resistance against the Iranian government’s oppression and censorship. Two Iranian films challenging state censorship have begun their European rollouts, shedding light on the ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights in the country.
While Hajipour’s case remains uncertain in relation to the recent amnesty order, his pardon symbolizes a glimmer of hope for the ongoing fight for justice and freedom in Iran. The legacy of Mahsa Amini lives on through the voices of artists and activists who refuse to be silenced.
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