Young Iranian singer Zara Esmaeili has been arrested for performing without a hijab, sparking outrage and concern among supporters of artistic freedom.
Zara Esmaeili, an emerging Iranian artist, has been arrested and imprisoned for singing publicly without wearing the mandatory hijab, an act that defies Iran’s strict dress code laws. Esmaeili became widely known after a video of her singing Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” without a hijab went viral on social media. The viral video quickly caught the attention of Iranian authorities, who subsequently detained her last week. As of now, there is no information about her current whereabouts or condition, leaving her family in distress.
Condemnation from the artistic community
Faravaz Farvardin, a prominent Iranian singer, and founder of the Berlin-based Right to Sing Campaign, condemned Esmaeili’s arrest. Farvardin stated,
“Zara, an Iranian female singer, is imprisoned in the Tehran Central Detention Center (Fashafoueh) for the crime of singing in public.” Farvardin further claimed that Esmaeili is being pressured by interrogators to falsely admit ties with activists and musicians outside Iran, calling the accusation a fabrication by the Iranian regime.
A Pre-emptive crackdown?
Esmaeili’s arrest may be part of a broader attempt by the Iranian government to suppress potential dissent, particularly in light of the significant protests that erupted two years ago. In September 2022, the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after being arrested for “unsuitable attire,” ignited widespread anti-government protests.
These protests, which included both men and women, became one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution. Thousands were arrested, and many lost their lives in what were often secretive and brutal crackdowns by the authorities.
Continuing repression
Earlier this year, a BBC report highlighted the fate of Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old protester who was allegedly sexually assaulted and beaten to death by Iranian security officials during the early days of the 2022 protests. Her body was found nine days after her disappearance, with the government claiming she had died by suicide. The arrest of Zara Esmaeili appears to be another instance of Iran’s ongoing efforts to stifle dissent and maintain control through intimidation and repression.