On Human Rights Day, the words of an Iranian singer

Today, the tenth of December, is the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This "common standard of achievement for all peoples of all nations," as Eleanor Roosevelt called it, along with the subsequent treaties and covenants that make its provisions legally binding, guarantees to everyone the freedom to make music.

Article 19 of the UDHR states, "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers"; Article 27 states, "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

"The tenth" is the literal meaning of Ashura, the Muslim holy day of 10 Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, which this year falls on 16 December. The ritual fasting is thought to have derived from the observance, by early Muslim communities, of the Jewish Day of Atonement. For the Shi'a, Ashura became a period of mourning to commemorate the tragic military defeat and heroic death of Husain bin Ali at the hands of Caliph Yazid at the battle of Karbala in 680 CE. According to the tradition, al-Husayn was the son of Ali, who was the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.

For the Shi'a, the Party of Ali, al-Husayn is the "Prince of Martyrs" whose sacrifice symbolizes righteous resistance to unjust power. The rulers of the Islamic Republic Iran draw on the religious power of Imam Husayn's martyrdom for their maniacal opposition to the "global arrogance" of the United States and its allies.

But on Ashura in 2009, when anti-government demonstrations swept Tehran, the chants of the protesters were referring to Ayatollah Khamenei as Yazid. A 26-year old singer named Arya Aramnejad was moved by the Ashura uprising to write "Ali Barkhir," or "Ali, Rise Up." After releasing the song, Arya was arrested, held in solitary confinement, and tortured by the authorities. What follows are excerpts from Aramnejad's courtroom testimony earlier this year, from a transcript provided by the blogger Azarmehr:

After the Ashura uprising which resulted in so many of my compatriots being killed, I felt it was my duty to condemn this inhumanity and use my musical talents in doing so. I wrote and composed a song, which became known as "Ali, Rise up." The content of this song is to do with the exploitation of God, the Koran and the Imams by a bunch of impostors to achieve their demonic goals. In this song, I asked the Imams for help in uprooting lies and hypocrisy. Is it not strange that in these days to ask the Imams for help in battling against evil is considered a crime in our country?

Imam Hussein was martyred for good to triumph against evil, so should we not expect the same from his followers? Or are we just supposed to ceremoniously beat our heads and beat up our chests and pretend we despise tyrants and despots?

I do not recognize this man as our president! Am I then not a Muslim? On the day of Ashura, I chanted "God is Great" and I am proud of calling His name. Surely whoever jails me for chanting "God is Great" is a non-believer and an infidel himself.

Those who make out they are Muslims these days, themselves disregard the most basic teachings. They easily lie to a nation of seventy million and make false promises, and feign that they want to glorify Iran and Islam. Iran and Islam are both much grander than having the need for such claimants.

The constitution has to be made clear. It gives me the right to criticize. It gives me the right to take part in gatherings without carrying weapons, it gives me the right to free speech and free thought. And because of this constitution that our fathers voted for, I am free not to be indifferent to the destiny of my country. Interestingly instead of being commended, I have to stand trial today for this. . . .

These policies of mass oppression and intimidation are dictated by which eternal power that justifies silence? Which divine laws allow such invasions of privacy into people's homes and into the privacy of people's private beliefs? and not tolerate the slightest of criticisms? These [self-interested] persons who claim to be kinder child minders than our own mothers, not only think they own this land but consider any non-conformity a crime and trample on the basic rights of our citizens. I recommend, in a brotherly way, some reality check and some insight than just having your eyes fixated on the seats of power; for rectifying your mistakes in the future will be much harder.