How Iran’s mullahs are using rap music to wage a holy culture war against the country’s youth: Tehran pumps out beats promoting its hardline Islamist values and nuclear ambitions – while dissident artists are jailed [Video]

06:16 EDT 05 May 2024, updated 06:47 EDT 05 May 2024

Iran is using rap music to promote hardline Islamist values and nuclear energy ambitions, while dissident artists are jailed for defying the regime.

Dozens of Iranian rappers have been arrested since the early 2000s, when hip-hop started gaining traction in the country, and last month rapper Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to death for charges linked to a period of nationwide unrest.

Salehi, 33, had released songs criticising the Iranian regime and demanding greater liberties and women’s rights. He also posted pictures of himself attending some of the protests held in support of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for wearing an ‘improper’ hijab.

As rap gained popularity in Iran, the Islamic Republic tried to discredit the genre, even branding rappers as ‘satanists’. But their attempts were unsuccessful so the regime started commissioning musicians to ‘spread their ideology and trying to influence young people’, …