Vafa Ahmadpour, a protest rapper and civil activist known as “Vafadar,” who previously served nine months in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz and Evin Prison, has now begun a new sentence of nine months under house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, the protest singer stated in a declaration that his crime was visiting the graves of the fallen and singing for the people.
In the published statement, he emphasized his moral duty to stand with the people and resist for their rights. He described the moment the ankle bracelet was placed on him as a heavy burden—not for himself alone, but for all those who endure similar pressures in silence.
Vafa Ahmadpour further stated:
“This bracelet may be locked around my ankle, but my voice, my faith, and my love for you and for freedom will never be confined. This device connects me to history and my people, not to a prison.”
Expressing his commitment to the people and the freedom of Iran, he emphasized that these experiences have given him profound lessons about his land and his people. Every hardship, he said, only strengthens his determination to continue his path.
The statement concluded with a message of hope:
“I sing for you, I live for you, and for Iran—with love, always by your side. I love you.”
Vafa Ahmadpour, whose protest songs have amplified the voices of Iranian youth and dissidents, has repeatedly faced security pressures due to his civil activism and music.