Iranian authorities have blocked the Instagram account of a popular female singer and arrested another vocalist, the latest actions against women performing music in the Islamic Republic.
The Instagram page of Fatemeh Ataei was shut down by Iran’s public security police, according to a message posted on her account.
The singer has more than 1 million followers.
The blocking notice says the page was closed for “producing criminal content” and that authorities have “dealt with” those responsible. No further details were provided.
Separately, security forces arrested Asmar Hamidi, a Kurdish singer living in Bojnord, during a raid on her home Saturday.
Hamidi was released on Monday on temporary bail, according to reports. Officials have not disclosed what charges, if any, Hamidi faces.
Women in Iran are prohibited from performing solo vocal performances in public under religious rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Authorities consider female singing voices to be provocative and inappropriate for male audiences.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have repeatedly taken legal action against women who sing in public spaces or publish their performances online.
The crackdown has extended to social media platforms, where many female artists have shared their work to circumvent official restrictions.
Despite the prohibitions, some Iranian women have continued to sing and share recordings online, facing potential arrest, prosecution, and bans on their social media accounts.
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