A singer in Iran was arrested on charges of organizing an unlicensed concert and performing as the sole female singer in the presence of men, according to state media.
A lawyer for Hiva Seyfizadeh told state media outlet Fars News Agency on Saturday that his “client and the rest of the group were released on bail today.”
“Only the concert organizer remains in custody,” the lawyer, Saeed Nemati, said.
Seyfizadeh, 27, was taken into custody last Thursday while performing at concert venue Emarat Rooberoo in the nation’s capital Tehran, according to Iran International, a Farsi-language news network based in Washington, D.C.
Responding to Seyfizadeh’s arrest, Ahmad Sadri — who heads the music office of the government’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance — said in an interview with Iranian state media ISNA this week that “the building, Emarat Rooberoo, is a multipurpose cultural and artistic institute.”
The building is situated in downtown Tehran, in the city’s artistic hub, an area populated by cafes, galleries and theaters. Across the street from Emarat Rooberoo is Tehran’s main playhouse, where events are frequently held. While solo female singers and DJs often perform in these venues, Iranian law prohibits women from performing solo in front of audiences that include male onlookers, allowing them to sing only as part of a band.
Shortly after the incident, the venue announced on Instagram that it would remain closed until further notice. On Sunday, FATA, Iran’s cyber police, appeared to have taken over the account, citing “the publication of criminal content” that “goes against public morality and ethics.”
Seyfizadeh’s Instagram account also appears to have been taken over by the cyber police with a similar warning.
Her lawyer, Nemati, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ multiple requests for details about Thursday’s incident.
Seyfizadeh has previously drawn attention for performing without the mandatory hijab, according to Iran International. She is also not the first female performer to be arrested in recent months.
In December, a woman was similarly arrested in the country after she posted a video of herself singing without a hijab on YouTube. The woman, Parastoo Ahmadi, was seen in the video wearing a sleeveless dress with her hair down, and was accompanied by four male musicians. Ahmadi’s 27-minute performance has been viewed more than 2.5 million times on YouTube.
That same month, the Iranian government passed a law that imposes severe punishment on women and girls for not wearing hijabs in public. Violators of the law can face up to 15 years in prison or the death sentence, according to the United Nations.
Women’s rights issues have engulfed Iran in national turmoil over the last several years following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in 2022 by the nation’s “morality police” for failing to properly wear her hijab. She died in police custody three days later, sparking nationwide protests.
The Iranian government has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and claimed that Amini died of pre-existing medical conditions.
