Islamic Republic of Iran: Music events canceled following claims by a Muslim cleric linking concerts to the drought

Image: Jihad Watch

After a cleric blamed concerts for the lack of rain, the Islamic Republic’s local religious-ideological department canceled all music events in southwest Iran.

Abdolhossein Ghobishavi, the Friday Prayer Imam of Abadan—a city renowned for hosting the Middle East's oldest oil refinery—recently condemned the issuance of concert permits. He labeled music events as sinful, claiming they provoke divine anger and are the cause of insufficient rainfall.

In response to his remarks, the provincial ideological department revoked several concert permits scheduled for February, as reported by local media.

This decision conflicts with directives from President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, which has instructed all governmental bodies and ministries to avoid obstructing music events.

Since the Islamic Republic's establishment in 1979, most forms of music have been prohibited on state television and radio.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)