The Iranian pop star who wrote the anti-regime protest anthem is imprisoned and, as punishment, ordered to write a song denouncing “America’s atrocities against humanity.”

An Iranian pop star who wrote a Grammy Award-winning protest anthem against the regime has been jailed and ordered to write a new song denouncing “America’s atrocities against humanity” as punishment.

Shervin Hajipour, 27, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after being accused of “inciting riots against national security”, “spreading propaganda against the system” and “encouraging people to protest”.

The charges were related to his song, ‘Baraye’, or ‘For’ in English, which became the national anthem in support of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

The lyrics list the reasons that young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran’s ruling theocracy after Amini’s death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing the mandatory headscarf, as pleases security forces.

The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour to create a song about “American crimes,” according to a report by the Human Rights Activist News Agency. She is required to publish online posts about America’s crimes and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam.

The court said Hajipour’s unusual punishment was deemed necessary to reflect the “seriousness of his actions” and was issued in part because he had not adequately expressed his regret over the release of the song.

Hajipour Published in Instagram on Friday, the same day Iran held its parliamentary elections, which appeared to be part of the trial against him.

He posted a photo of his verdict and thanked his lawyers and agent for their support.

“I will not mention the name of the judge and the prosecutor so that they are not insulted and threatened, because insults and threats are not in the religion of humanity,” he wrote. ‘Finally one day we will understand each other. Until then.’

Iranian state media, focused on Friday’s elections, did not take note of Hajipour’s sentencing.

However, the musician does not appear to be intimidated by Iran’s legal system and last month released another controversial song that apparently takes aim at the regime and the charges he faces.

The lyrics of the new song say that he is “trash who had no one to bail him out” and that he will “stay in Iran to rebuild this city” even though he is “not allowed to sing in public.” cnn reported.

First Lady Jill Biden presented Hajipour with the Grammy Special Merit Award for New Song for Social Change for ‘Baraye’ during last year’s ceremony. The song won the award for its “profound influence and social impact.”

The song begins with: ‘For dancing in the streets’, ‘for the fear we feel when we kiss’.

Additionally, it lists the reasons that young Iranians posted online as to why they had protested after Amini’s death. The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran’s clerical rulers. A subsequent security crackdown killed more than 500 people and more than 22,000 were detained.

“This song became the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests, a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights,” Biden said at the awards ceremony.

“Shervin was arrested, but this song continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme: Women, Life, Freedom.”

Hajipour’s sentencing comes as other activists, journalists and artists have faced arrests, imprisonment and harassment since the protests. Among those imprisoned is Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran condemned Hajipour’s sentence on Friday and demanded that Iran immediately release him from the sentence.

“This blatant violation of Shervin’s rights to freedom of expression is a grave injustice and a clear affront to human rights principles,” the center said.

“His imprisonment serves as a chilling reminder of the continued repression faced by artists, activists and dissident voices in Iran.”

PEN America similarly criticized Iran for ordering Hajipour imprisoned and sentencing rappers and others for their music critical of the government in Tehran.

“Shervin Hajipour’s sentencing is another terrible attempt to suppress independent voices channeling the demands of the Iranian people for basic freedoms,” said Julie Trébault, director of PEN’s Artists at Risk Connection.

“The Iranian government fears the power of music to give hope and inspire citizens to dream of a better, more equitable future for all.”