Woman, Life, Freedom

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Music and Art as a Voice of Protest in Iran — On the Solidarity Event at the HfMT Forum

Prominent guests and a sold-out forum: On Sunday evening, the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT) expressed its solidarity with the protesters in Iran, including many students and academic staff. Through musical performances, live art, and film screenings, as well as panel discussions, the event drew attention to the current political situation. The German-Iranian journalist, host, and performance artist Michel Abdollahi also found the right words to describe what needs to be done next.

The voice of protest against the Iranian government’s repressive policies has become unmistakable in recent weeks. Artistic forms of expression by cultural figures living both in the country and abroad, as well as their dissemination through the media, play an important role in this. The HfMT administration responded to the needs of students of Iranian descent and, together with them, organized this evening of solidarity. The varied program was moderated by conductor Yalda Zamani and cultural manager Bahar Roshanai from the Körber Foundation. Through various panel discussions and film clips, particular attention was drawn to the situation of women, and the extent to which artistic expression there is regulated—and in some cases even life-threatening—was described. Acting student Ali Abbasi sang the protest anthem “Baraye,” accompanied by a harpist.

HfMT President Prof. Dr. Jan Philipp Sprick: “I am deeply impressed and moved by the commitment of our Iranian students and the other participants in the event. A wide range of activities and initiatives has come to light, demonstrating the important role of art and culture in the protests. I am delighted that the HfMT was able to provide a stage for this. On behalf of everyone involved, I would like to thank the two hosts of the evening, Bahar Roshanai and Yalda Zamani, who were also largely responsible for putting together the program.”

A prominent guest at the event was the Hamburg-based artist and journalist Michel Abdollahi, who emphasized in his speech how important relations with Germany are to Iran and that criticism from here is always taken very seriously there. “After the German Foreign Minister made her remarks, the Iranian Foreign Minister immediately tweeted asking what that was all about. When the German Chancellor made his remarks, he tweeted again immediately in a harsher tone. And when the resolution was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, the response on Twitter was even more vehement. “Let’s just keep going until he stops tweeting!” demanded Michel Abdollahi. “It’s not about raising awareness among Iranians—they’re already aware enough—but I’m doing this as a German citizen. I’ve learned that we must stand up unreservedly for the free democratic basic order,” said Michel Abdollahi, emphasizing how important it is to continue providing information about the situation in Iran and to keep up the public pressure.