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Provinces

Female Musician Banned from Performing

January 16, 2015
OstanWire
1 min read
Female Musician Banned from Performing

Authorities forced musician Harir Shariarzadeh off stage during a concert by her husband Salar Aqili in Tarqobeh, Shandiz, on January 12.

Shariatzadeh, who was playing the daf, a large Persian frame drum used in popular and classical music, was told to leave the stage at the end of the first song and was not permitted to return thereafter.

According to Iscanews, altogether 13 female musicians have been stopped from performing in live concerts according to an “unwritten law imposed by hardliners and pressure groups” on local branches of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Mohammadreza Kermani, Salar Aqili’s manager, told Fars News Agency, “After our performance in the city of Bojnurd, the provincial office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance suggested that we perform in Shandiz as well. Then, on the night of the concert, an authority official told us to tell Ms. Shariatzadeh to leave the stage and to not play for the rest of the concert.”

Having worked hard to secure official permission to hold the concert, Kermaini added: “The authorities promised us there wouldn’t be any problems so we didn’t expect to see Ms. Shariatzadeh being treated like that. Her hejab was perfect, as she’s very careful in this regard. This was the first time we’ve had a problem like this.”

Harir Shariatzaden is a well-respected daf player who performs both as a solo artist and with well-known musician Javad Maroufi. 

Read the original article in Persian

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