Western Iran's (Rojhelat) Bestoon band in Kermanshah province during a live public performance. File photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A group of Kurdish street musicians in western Iran’s (Rojhelat) Kermanshah province has been bringing joy to the public for the past seven years despite mounting government restrictions on artistic expression.
“Since 2018, we have been doing street performances, and we have performed in all of the alleys and streets of Kermanshah. Our aim is to take away people’s bad mood and bring a smile to their faces, and that will be our gift to people and have their blessing,” Yazdan Khaqani, a musician from Bestoon Band, told Rudaw.
Many Iranians are facing economic hardship under years of harsh sanctions. The crisis is compounded in the Kurdish regions in the west of the country (Rojhelat) that have been chronically underdeveloped with limited job opportunities and a lack of government investment.
While the group remains committed to sharing their art publicly, they are increasingly concerned about the risk of state intervention.
“Our daily concern is that at any moment, the authorities may come, confiscate our instruments, and stop us from performing… Despite numerous obstacles and struggles, we have continued performing for seven years by enduring all the challenges. However, due to the lack of support from the authorities for street singing and public performance, we are now forced to continue under extremely difficult conditions,” Fardin Andayish, a member of the band, said.
Iranian authorities frequently crack down on public performances, particularly when women are involved in singing or playing instruments, which is strictly prohibited under Islamic law. Instruments are often confiscated, and performers are accused of undermining Islamic values.
Street artists often perform under pressure and fear repercussions. Even concerts officially approved by the government are held under strict conditions and have at times been abruptly shut down. In several instances, authorities have revoked performance permits, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
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