Three independent Iranian music distributors began their prison sentences Sunday in Tehran. Mehdi Rajabian, Hossein Rajabian, and Yousef Emadi were convicted in December 2015 of “insulting the sacred” and creating “propaganda against the state.” They are serving reduced sentences of 3 years plus 3 years of probation, down from the original 6 years, after winning a lengthy appeals process in February 2016.

(From Left:) Iranian music distributors Youssef Emadi, Hossein Rajabian, and Mehdi Rajabian began their 3-year prison sentences Sunday.

Iranian authorities issued a summons order on May 27 demanding that the three men begin their sentence at Evin Prison. Evin Prison is infamous for holding political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

The Rajabian brothers and Emadi were first arrested in October 2013. They had founded an independent music distributor, BargMusic, in 2009. The three men applied repeatedly for a permit to operate from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. When their numerous applications were denied by the ministry’s strict censors, the three carried on with their business.

At the time of the arrest, Mehdi Rajabian was conducting a research project about the history of Iranian music and Hossein Rajabian had just finished work on a feature film. All materials related to both of these projects were confiscated upon their arrest.

Censors in Iran are a constant factor in art, where even permitted work is often arbitrarily deemed illegal or immoral. For many Iranian artists, underground distributors like BargMusic are the only hope for releasing their work.

The Rajabian brothers posted this photo to social media before leaving for Evin Prison (Facebook).

The men were in solitary confinement from October to December. They reported facing torture by beating and electric shock, as prosecutors sought to force them into making televised confessions. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that Mehdi Rajabian now suffers muscular dystrophy from the repeated torture.

The three distributors were first sentenced in December to six years in prison plus a fine. In January an appeal was denied, but a second appeal in February had better results. Under pressure from international organizations, the sentences were changed to three years in prison and three years probation, with the fine waived.

Iran has seen some major victories for free expression, with two cartoonists freed and  two poets released so far this year. However, cases such as those of the BargMusic distributers and other prisoners of conscience prove there is still much work to be done.

The Voice Project continues to campaign for the unconditional release of these artists. You can add your voice to that demand here.