“Insulting Islamic sanctities”, “spreading propaganda against the system” and “illegal audio-visual activities”; these are the charges faced by Mehdi and Hossein Rajabian (26 and 31), and their friend Yousef Emadi (35) two musicians and a film-maker.

The trio have just been sentenced to 3 years in prison for the online distribution of underground music, and with no access to legal representation, their trial was quick and one-sided.

The website in question, the now blocked Barg Music, specialized int he distribution of “offensive” underground music, frequently presenting “anti establishment” views and lyrics. This resulted in an initial jail term that included torture and solitary confinement, to which Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned.

So, as the recent documentary Raving Iran has proven, the distribution of music as “propaganda” is something very prevalent in Iran and, unfortunately, in many religious states. Let’s hope the trio of freedom fighters get their sentences commuted (the 3 years they currently serve have already been cut from 6). Also, under threat of being politically incorrect (not to mention redundant), isn’t religion, especially as state run, a bit antiquated? I mean, it’s the 21st Century…maybe we should live in it.

Source: The Guardian