The Iranian metal band, Confess have been convicted to 14 and a half years of imprisonment and 74 lashes by the Revolutionary Tribunal of Tehran. The band members were punished, for the crime of playing metal. It is strictly forbidden in Iran to play the metal band.
In 2015, the band, Confess created a major headline worldwide. The band members were arrested by the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. They had multiple charges on them, which included, blasphemy for expressing anti-religious sentiments through their music. The band members, Nikan Khosravi, and Arash Ilkhani, both fled Iran and were granted asylum in Norway.
Recently, Khosravi and Ilkhani were sentenced by prosecutors in Tehran. Khosravi has been sentenced to 12 years in prison along with 74 lashes. His other bandmate Ilkhani was initially sentenced to six years which was reduced to two years.
Loudwire, a news website has recently obtained the legal document from the General Judiciary of the Province of Tehran. The document states that “Nikan Khosravi will be imprisoned for six months and the 74 lashes have been ordered for, allegedly disturbing the public opinion through production of music which contains anti-regime lyrics and insulting content.” The band members were also accused of, “participating in interviews with the opposition media and attempting to leave the country has also been confirmed by the court.”
Nikan Khosravi, during an interview with Loudwire, a news website, stated that the band, Confess had escaped execution through a loophole in Iran’s practice of Sharia Law. Khosravi said, “If you insult the Prophet you will get executed, because he’s dead and he can’t defend himself. But if you blaspheme God and question his existence, he can forgive you. That was why we didn’t get executed.”
As of now, the band, Confess is residing in Norway where they were granted asylum. The band continues to create music. They had just released a new single, “Evin.”