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Protests break out in Iran after death of famed singer

Mohammad Reza Shajarian was a renowned singer and composer of classical music. He also notably supported the 2009 protests in the country.
Fans of Iranian singer, instrumentalist and composer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian gather outside the Jam hospital in Tehran where he has died on October 8, 2020. - Singer, instrumentalist and composer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, who died today aged 80, embodied traditional and classical Iranian music for more than half a century both at home and abroad. A national treasure in his homeland, Shajarian nevertheless maintained difficult relations with the authorities in Tehran throughout his career, first under the rei

Demonstrations broke out in Iran on Thursday following the death of a popular musician who supported the 2009 protest movement in the country. Iran is under domestic and international scrutiny this year for its ongoing crackdown on dissent.

Renowned classical music composer and singer Mohammad Reza Shajarian died on Thursday at age 80, Radio Farda reported. Shajarian stayed out of politics most of his life. However, in 2009, he asked state media to stop playing his music in solidarity with the Green Movement protest. The government then banned Shajarian from holding concerts and releasing music, according to the US government-funded outlet that covers Iran news.

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