According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, police have recently arrested two individuals who had made an appearance in an online video in support of the country's national team for the 2014 World Cup. Police chief Colonel Rahmatollah Taheri was quoted as saying that the arrest of the individuals was in line with the two's participation in a music video produced by London-based Ajam Band.
The video, which is directed by Farshad Hosseini, has featured scenes from both inside and outside of Iran, which included the city of Shahroud. The two were arrested in the said city, AP added. The video shows young people singing and dancing in support of their national team. The dances and singers included women who did not don the mandatory headscarf. Taheri has since called the video "vulgar," but fell short of explaining why he has dubbed the video offensive. He also urged the Iranian youth to not take part in activities such as the ones in Aram's latest video.
On the other hand, Ajam does have noble intentions for their national team just like any other scores of musicians and other creative people, including fans, who have showcased their various forms of support to cheer for their teams in the World Cup. Ajam, according to their bio posted on their website, is hoping that their native Iranian roots brand of music could bring an "epic and soulful spirit" of their country's music to a new generation.
In an interview with CNN, the band said about making the video, "Everyone's got the right mind-set in Iran right now. Everybody is super ready for the World Cup."
This is not the first time Iranians have been arrested over a music video. In May, police arrested six youngsters who starred in a homemade video to Pharrell Williams' wildly popular and award-winning song "Happy." The group has since been released days after the arrest.
Williams has since expressed his support for the young Iranians and wrote in a tweet, "It's beyond sad these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness."
