memri
June 11, 2012 Special Dispatch No. 4782

The Iranian Regime vs. Shahin Najafi

June 11, 2012
Iran | Special Dispatch No. 4782

Shahin Najafi, an Iranian singer living in Germany, caused an uproar in Iran recently by performing a rap song[1] in which he decried the poor humanitarian, economic, and social conditions in Iran under the rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The song alluded to recent events in Iranian social life, and derided the country's political and religious leaders, whom Najafi holds responsible for the pervasive despair among the citizens. It also alluded to the tenth Shi'ite imam, 'Ali Al-Hadi, who is called Al-Naqi ("the pure"). This enraged Iran's religious establishment, which claimed that the song disrespects this Imam and the holy tenets of the Shi'a, as well as modern Iranian leaders – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his successor, Khamenei.

The image that accompanied the song's video on YouTube also sparked outrage. It depicted the dome of the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad (the mosque where, according to the Shi'ite belief, the eighth Imam Reza is buried). The dome is drawn in the shape of a woman's breast topped with a gay pride flag (see image below).

In response to the song, senior ayatollah Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa proclaiming Najafi an apostate who must be killed.[2] In addition, calls were made in Iran to kill Najafi, people began organizing for the task,[3] and rewards were offered to whoever carries it out. Despite the threats on his life, Najafi stated that he would continue his activity, emphasizing that the song was meant to criticize Iranian society, not necessarily the religious establishment.[4]

Following is a translation of the song, along with explanations partially based on the post of an Iranian blogger,[5] as well as a review of responses to the song in Iran and the threats on Najafi's life.


The Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad


The image accompanying the video

Translation Of The Song Lyrics

"Naqi, for the sake of your sense of humor

"For the sake of those who left the pit and are in exile[6]

"For the great phallus [which gives] life

"That sits behind us and threatens us

"For the breadth and height of [Western] sanctions [against Iran]

"For the rising dollar and the feeling of humiliation

"Naqi, for the sake of the cardboard Imam [Khomeini][7]

"For the baby [Khamenei] who cried ''Ali' while still stuck in his mother's womb[8]

"For [Islamic] studies in rooms where nose jobs are performed[9]

"For the master [Khamenei] and the prayer beads and prayer mat that were made in China[10]

"Al-Naqi, for Sheys Rezaei's finger[11]

"For the religion that was kicked out, and for religious soccer[12]

[Chorus:]

"Now that the Mahdi [the Hidden Imam] is sleeping, and we call on you, Oh Naqi

"Please appear, for we are ready in our shrouds[13]

"Now that the Mahdi is sleeping, and we call on you

"Please appear, for we are ready in our shrouds

"Naqi, for the sake of love and Viagra

"For the elevated legs and the chakras

"For the sangak [Iranian bread], the chicken, the meat, and the fish

"For silicone breasts and striped virginity[14]

"Naqi, for the breasts of Golshifteh[15]

"For the lost honor we never had

"Naqi, for the Aryan race[16]

"For the chain around your neck

"Naqi, [I would give] my life for Farnoud's penis[17]

"For three billion [dollars that disappeared] like in a fairytale[18]

"And for the Persian Gulf and Lake Urmia[19]

"Honestly, what was the name of the leader of the Green Movement?[20]

[Chorus:]

"Oh Naqi, now that the Mahdi is sleeping, and we call on you

"Please appear, for we are ready in our shrouds

"For the fart that comes from the heart, Imam [Khomeini] of the nation[21]

"For the fossilized politicians in exile[22]

"For the intelligent widowers who frequent discos

"For intellectual debates in chat rooms

"For the [religious] zeal of men who mess around with other women[23]

"For the women who defend male rights

"For the color revolutions on TV[24]

"For the three percent of the [Iranian] population that reads books[25]

"For weak and empty slogans[26]

"Naqi, for the fickle population

"Who says 'long live' in the morning and 'death to…' in the evening[27]

"For the heroes of imaginary stories

[Chorus:]

"Oh Naqi, now that the Mahdi is sleeping, we call on you

"Please appear, for we are ready in our shrouds, oh Naqi

"Oh Naqi, now that the Mahdi is sleeping and we call on you

"Please appear, for we are ready in our shrouds"

Calls In Iran To Kill Shahin Najafi

Following the circulation of the song, various elements in Iran offered rewards to anyone who kills Najafi. On May 10, 2012, the religious Iranian website Shia-online.ir promised $100,000, provided by a citizen in an Arab Gulf state, to anyone who kills him (see image).[28] On May 14, 2012, Iranian musician Hamed Zamani put a 10 million toman price (approximately $8,000) on Najafi's head,[29] whereas students from the Marvi Religious Seminary in Tehran offered 12 million toman (approximately $9,600).[30] In addition, officials called to implement the fatwas against the singer.[31]

On May 9, 2012, the regime website afsaran.ir, which was established after the 2009 riots to combat soft warfare against the regime, launched a campaign titled "Kill Najafi." The website called on readers to fulfill "the explicit fatwa" issued against him: "We ask all Shi'ites, and all Muslims who love ahl al-bayt [the Imam 'Ali and his descendants from his marriage to Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad] to punish the accursed singer Shahin Najafi, and send him to an eternal hell, if you can reach him in any way."[32]

A poster on the website explained that Najafi's punishment is in accordance with article 513 of Iran's Islamic penal code, which imposes a sentence of death on anyone who harms the holy tenets of Islam and the honor of the prophets, the Shi'ite imams, and the Prophet's daughter Fatima. The poster reads: "Following the insult [made by] Satan's singer Shahin Najafi to the Imam Reza, the Imam Hadi [Al-Naqi], and the 'Hidden Imam,' he is sentenced to death, and his blood is forfeit."

In addition, in late May, 2012, the Establishment for Pure Islamic Art published a free computer game called "Shoot the Infidel," in which players are invited to carry out the ruling of the ayatollahs and kill Najafi.[33]

Expressions Of Support For Najafi

Alongside the protests in Iran against Najafi, students at the Payam-e Nour University in Mashhad held a conference in his support. They screened an interview he gave to the BBC in Farsi, which elicited applause from the audience. In response, the student Basij held protests on campus and called to prosecute the conference organizers.[34]

Iranian human rights activists reported that the regime has arrested several citizens who expressed support for Najafi.[35]


Endnotes:

[2] www.shia-news.com, May 13, 2012. Other ayatollahs, including senior ayatollah Nouri-Hamedani, also called Najafi an apostate. Www.rasanews.ir, May 16, 2012.

[3] See, for example, the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/killingshahinnajafi.

[4]http://en.gantara.de, May 14, 2012.

[6] Referring to Iranians living abroad.

[7] Referring to a cardboard cutout of Khomeini that was used in a ceremony reenacting his return from exile, held at Tehran airport on February 1, 2012. The use of the cardboard image sparked intense public criticism in Iran. For images of the event, visit http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1522844.

[8] Referring to a YouTube video circulated in Iran, in which the Friday preacher in Qom, Mohammad Saeedi, claimed that, when Khamenei was born, the midwife began shouting because the infant had called out "Oh Ali!" (a common call among Shi'ites evoking the first Shi'ite Imam, 'Ali bin Abi Taleb). See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series Report No. 782, "Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Iranian Regime vs. President Ahmadinejad – Part II: From Supreme Leader to Imam", January 3, 2012, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Iranian Regime vs. President Ahmadinejad – Part II: From Supreme Leader to Imam. For the YouTube video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkgLgD3dZIs.

[9] Referring to the rate of nose jobs in Iran, which is the highest in the world. Apparently, this operation is popular because the face is the only part of the body that remains visible with the Islamic dress code. See http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18563_162-692495.html.

[10] Referring to the large amount of products imported to Iran from China, including religious objects.

[11] An Iranian soccer player who was punished for poking a teammate's bottom in celebration of a goal. This gesture was construed as "lewd behavior" and Rezaei was forced to make a public apology.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWoresMpHTA.

[12] Referring to Iranian society being fed up with the religious oppression and the authorities' interference in Iranian soccer.

[13] Referring to pro-regime protestors in Iran who wear shrouds to symbolize their willingness to die for the regime; perhaps also referring to society's growing despair.

[14] Might refer to hymen reconstruction surgery, which is popular in Iran.

[15] Referring to Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who posed nude for the French magazine Madame Le Figaro in January 2012, and was consequently banned from returning to Iran. See http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iranian-actress-golshifteh-farahani-banned-190872.

[16] Referring to the claim that Iranians are descendants of the Aryan race (which motivated Shah Reza Pahlavi to change the name Persia to Iran in 1935).

[17] A reference to an Iranian children's show where a young boy innocently mentioned his penis and was reprimanded by the hostess. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw74MwGcAvc.

[18] Alluding to the embezzling of 3 billion dollars from seven Iranian banks, attributed to Ahmadinejad and his associates.

[19] Two Iranian national symbols.

[20] Implying that the Iranian people have already forgotten Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the leader of the protest movement, who has disappeared from the public eye.

[21] Alluding to an Iranian TV presenter who accidentally referred to Khomeini's death as a "fart that comes from the heart" instead of "a tragedy that burns the heart". See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnQmdT9XmVk

[22] Criticizing the Iranian opposition in exile.

[23] Criticizing Iranians who zealously defend the honor of the woman in their own family, while pestering other women.

[24] Referring to revolutions in the world: The Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, and the Green revolution in Iran.

[25] Criticizing the Iranian regime's stringent censorship of books.

[26] Referring to the slogans of regime opponents, who lack influence and power.

[27] Criticizing Iranian society and the protests on the eve of the Islamic revolution, which alternated between supporting the Shah and Khomeini.

[28] www.shia-online.ir, May 10, 2012.

[29] www.teribon.org, May 14, 2012.

[30] www.shia-online.ir, June 5, 2012.

[31] For statements by Mohammad Nabi Habibi, head of the Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh), see ISNA (Iran), May 22, 2012; for statements by Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Abbas Kabi, see www.nasimonline.ir, May 23, 2012.

[32] It should be mentioned that the language here is very similar to the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie.

[34] Fars (Iran), May 22, 2012.

[35]www.hra-news.com, May 27, 2012.

Share this Report: