Iranian singer sentenced to prison for protest song

Shervin Hajipour posted what appeared to be part of the judgement against him on Instagram on Friday, the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election.

It said Hajipour received a three-year, eight-month sentence on charges of "propaganda against the system" and "encouraging people to protest." The court found he hadn't properly expressed regret over publishing the song.

It also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered him to create a song about US crimes, as well as make posts about those crimes online.

Hajipour thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support.

He'd already served some prison time, but was out on bail pending the court's decision. It was unclear if he had already reported to serve his sentence.

Hajipour's song Baraye, (or For in English) lists reasons that young Iranians posted online for their protest against Iran's ruling theocracy - including 'for dancing in the streets' and 'for the fear we feel when we kiss'.

The protests followed the death of Mahsi Amini after she was arrested for not wearing her mandated headscarf to the liking of security forces.

The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran's clerical rulers. A subsequent security crackdown killed more than 500 people, with more than 22,000 detained.

At the Grammys last year, US First Lady Jill Biden presented Hajipour with the new 'social change special merit award'.

"This song became the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests, a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women's rights," Biden said at the ceremony. "Shervin was arrested, but this song continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme: Women, life, freedom."

The New York-based centre for Human Rights in Iran condemned Hajipour's sentencing Friday, and demanded Iran immediately release him from the sentence.

"This blatant violation of Shervin's rights to free speech and expression is a grave injustice and a clear affront to human rights principles," the centre said. "His imprisonment serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing repression faced by artists, activists and dissenting voices in Iran."

Australian Associated Press