Since he expressed support for the 2009 Green Movement protests, the voice of Iranian master Mohammad Reza Shajarian reciting Rabanna has not aired on Iranian television during the holy month of Ramadan. The famous version of the prayer by arguably Iran's greatest classical singer, who began his career as a Quran reciter, would signal to Iranians it was time to break their fast. This year, after a seven-year absence and despite much media speculation about his return, Shajarian's voice did not return to Iranian homes for the first night of Ramadan, according to Iranian media outlets.
The possibility of Shajarian's return in the last few days had sparked a number of controversies revealing political trends and showing that the country is still not healed from the post-presidential election protests that rocked it in 2009.
