Tag Archives: freedom of expression

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Hong Kong pro-democracy anthem now officially banned in the city

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The ban has raised serious concerns about the future of freedom of speech in the autonomous region.

Composed in 2019 by a young musician using the pseudonym “Thomas dgx yhl”, the song was initially written to ‘boost protester’s morale and unite people’. It then rapidly went viral and was often sung during the 2019 anti-government protests that rocked the autonomous region.

The Hong Kong government has since demanded that Google and other online search engines delete the song from their system and so far, more than 30 videos have been blocked and replaced with the message: “This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order.”

The pro-democracy anthem is still available and obviously it can never be fully deleted. Songs will always live on and it only takes one person with the spirit of freedom pumping through their veins to play the song and upload it. Again, and again, and again.

Banning a song is a futile act of a desperate, weak and fearful government.

Please enjoy Glory to Hong Kong below and spread the word of freedom of expression and solidarity with artists and activists everywhere.

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Dissident artist Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for using his voice

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The well known rapper has regularly used his creative talents to voice his concerns about his oppressive government

Pro-democracy demonstrators marching for Iran in Washington, DC demand Toomaj Salehi’s release, Nov. 12, 2022. (Joe Flood/Creative Commons)

Salehi was essentially convicted of “corruption on Earth” after speaking publicly about the death of Mahsa Amini, his government’s oppression of his people and his song lyrics about poverty, executions and killing of protesters.

The Isfahan Revolutionary Court added further penalties to Salehi’s case which included forbidding him pursuing artistic activities.

Read also: ” Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi, Known For His Anti-Government Protest Songs, Has Been Arrested”

In a post by Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of the UN Watch, he shares a statement by human rights ambassadors from all across Europe in which they wrote: “Toomaj Salehi is one of the many powerful voices supporting the peaceful protests following Zhina Mahsa Amini’s death and demanding freedom and rights for women and girls in Iran.”

Via Amnesty International’s page you can sign your name and send a letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, urging the Iranian government “that his execution sentence, his prison sentence, and his artist ban all be voided, and that he be immediately and unconditionally released, as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights including his right to freedom of expression.”

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Iranian Protest Song Gains Thousands Of Submissions For New Grammy Award

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As powerful and popular many protest songs have been throughout history they have not had their own category at one of the world’s largest music awards ceremony – until now.

The annual Grammy Awards, in the US, have now added a new category called “Best Song for Social Change”. With this The Recording Academy aims to recognise songs with profound social influence and impact.

Also read: Iran Arrests Singer Whose Song Became Anthem Of Ongoing Protests

One song in particular has by now received a vast amount of submissions for the new award. “Baraye” by 25-year-old Iranian musician, Shervin Hajipour, was written in response to the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini.

The song went viral on social media, gaining over 40 million views, before Hajipour was arrested by Iranian authorities. The artist has since then been released on bail.

In a recent Instagram post, Hajipour denied any links to any “movement or organisation outside the country” and said clarified that his song was only meant to “express solidarity with the people”.

“Thousands turn out in Melbourne to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out in Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa (also known as Jina or Zhina) Amini at the hands of the country’s brutal dictatorship and its ‘morality’ police.” Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.

In a statement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said: “The Academy is deeply moved by the overwhelming volume of submissions for Shervin Hajipour’s ‘Baraye’ for our new Special Merit Award, Best Song for Social Change.

“While we cannot predict who might win the award, we are humbled by the knowledge that the Academy is a platform for people who want to show support for the idea that music is a powerful catalyst for change.

“The Academy steadfastly supports freedom of expression and art that’s created to empower communities in need. Because music serves the world, and the Recording Academy exists to serve music.”

Cover image, “Shervin-Hajipour-Khoobe-Man.jpg”, by Sepher Sabah. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0.