Shahin Najafi

Morteza Najafipoor Moghaddam (born 1980), better known as Shahin Najafi, is an Iranian musician, singer, composer, poet, author, and political activist.

Najafi's songs mostly deal with issues such as theocracy, poverty, sexism, censorship, child labor, execution, drug addiction and homophobia.

In interviews, he has stated that he strives to use poetic, literary, philosophical, and political elements in his music.

Shahin Najafi was born in 1980 in Bandar-e Anzali, Iran.

When he was six years old, his father died, and later his brother became a drug addict and also died.

He began writing poetry as a teenager and began learning the guitar in the classical and flamenco styles at the age of 18.

He then became an underground artist in Iran, performing in both rock and Spanish music styles, working with various bands.

He studied sociology at the University of Gilan and openly expressed his opinions about the university, leading to his getting expelled.

Before he immigrated to Germany, Najafi was the head of an underground music band in Iran.

Still, he was banned for his offenses towards the Islamic faith in Iran by the Iranian government after his second music show.

He was also the head of the Inan music band in Germany.

An article published in No. 19194 of the conservative newspaper Kayhan on 29 September 2008 criticized Tapesh 2012's activities.

Kayhan published the article titled Establishing democracy with drum & circle.

A part of it goes as follows:

On 1 May 2008, Najafi released his first studio album, Ma mard nistim (We Are Not Men), with the partnership and composition of the Tapesh 2012 music band.

This album was his official and professional beginning in Persian hip hop music.

The album attracted the audience and listener more than before it was released in Persian hip hop style.

After the Iranian election protests, Najafi released a single named Neda in July 2009 dedicated to Neda Agha-Soltan, an activist killed during the protests.

He released his second studio album titled Tavahhom (Illusion) on 19 September 2009 by the German-Iranian publishing house "Pamas-Verlag".

In this album, several songs are about the intense protests against the Iranian government and the political oppression after the presidential election.

It can be cited as "Vaghti khoda have (When God is asleep)" through these songs.

The song's lyrics protest the 2009 Iran poll protests trial, militia violence, the use of torture on prisoners, and the Supreme Leader of Iran.

He formed a new rock band Antikarisma band in January 2010.

The new band, Antikarisma, consists of Najafi, Babak Khazaei, Armin Mostaed, and Pejman Afshari, who live in Germany.

Following the release of the song "Ay Naghi!"

("Hey, Naghi!"), Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, a then 93-year-old Shi’ite cleric based in Qom, issued a fatwa death sentence against Najafi for apostasy.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi, a "source of emulation" for many Shia Muslims, also issued a fatwa declaring Najafi guilty of apostasy.

Then he joined the Tapesh 2012 music band.

Tapesh 2012 were welcomed by Persian broadcasters and the international media by political and social songs and poems of Najafi.

"Recently, opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran continue their goals in universities and in the form of music groups to make known the autocracies of the Iranian government. Recently some blogs of opposition students have published a statement about 'Tapesh 2012,' which gives news Establishing One Million Signatures by 'Tapesh 2012'. This group is composed of some Iranian and Germans that are not affiliated with any party or group. The purpose of this group is to attempt to collect signatures and present it on the anniversary of Human Rights (10 December) to Parliament of Europe in Brussels. They have attracted world media attention to unacceptable conditions in Iran and the dissatisfaction of the Iranian people. The Parliament of Europe announced the official support for the group plans. They encourage people to consider how the regime suppresses human rights."

Najafi ended cooperation with Tapesh 2012 at the beginning of 2009.

Various reasons have been proposed related to his separation from this group.

The main reason is releasing the "Around us" single song on Voice of America TV without permission.

The supervisor of Tapesh 2012 later apologized to Najafi and stated: the song had been inadvertently released in Voice of America TV.

Najafi accepted the apology.

As of 15 May 2012, more than 800 people in Iran had joined a Facebook campaign calling for Najafi to be executed, saying they were ready to assassinate him if necessary.

An Iranian web site, Shia-Online.ir, offered a US$100,000 bounty to anyone who killed Najafi.

In May 2012, the online site HonareNab.ir posted an online "Shoot the Apostates" flash computer game inviting people to shoot and kill Najafi.

"Those who love Imam Hadi can practice killing Shahin Najafi by playing this flash game," said Honar Nab Eslam, who developed the game.

On 25 May 2012, Shiite cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda demanded a plan to execute Najafi.