Hamidreza Nurbakhsh, CEO of Iran’s House of Music, has strongly criticized the charges brought against traditional vocalist Hiva Seifizadeh, questioning how a limited performance of Iranian classical music could form the basis for grave allegations such as “encouraging corruption and prostitution” and “establishing a center of corruption.”
The case against Seifizadeh dates back to the evening of February 27, 2025, during a performance at Tehran’s “Rooberoo Mansion” cultural center. Security forces raided the venue, halted the event, and detained the singer. Judicial proceedings were subsequently launched against the event’s organizers, and Seifizadeh recently announced that she had received a preliminary sentence of four years in prison.
In a public statement released on her personal page following months of silence, Seifizadeh explained that she had been on stage for only a few minutes, singing a few lines of classical poetry by Saadi in the traditional Iranian style. Addressing the charge of “encouraging corruption and prostitution,” she asked: “Which specific action of mine constitutes encouraging corruption and prostitution?”
Seifizadeh called for an independent and thorough review of her case by the court of appeals, adding that she would pursue the appeal alongside her defense counsel.
