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TEHRAN -- A news story about the release of an album allegedly containing solo performances by a female singer, something that is forbidden in Iran, has gotten the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance into trouble.
A number of top Iranian Muslim clerics and some MPs voiced exasperation in early February with the Culture Ministry’s decision to authorize the album entitled “Love You, O Ancient Land”.
The criticism from the clerics and MPs was based on reports from certain Persian news websites, which claimed that “Love You, O Ancient Land” was a solo album by a female singer Noshin Tafi.
However, all tracks of the album were performed by a choir of Tafi and a male singer, Mohsen Keramati.
In Iran, female singers are only allowed to perform for an audience of females and in choral performances with male singers in public.
“The complaints from the respected clerics are based on false reports that they have received about the album,” Culture Minister Ali Jannati said last week.
“Of course, I respect them and understand their concerns, which come from religious motivations,” he added.
“I emphatically deny all reports claiming that the Culture Ministry has authorized an album that contains solo performances by a female singer,” Jannati stated.
He asked Iranian news websites to avoid spreading false news reports.
MMS/YAW
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