The violent arrest of singer and composer Arya Aramnejad took place upon his return home after having attended the court in the city of Sari, reviewing his appeal for a previous sentence. The intelligence agents are said to have searched the musician’s house and confiscated his handwritten notes, documents, computer and other personal belongings.

Solitary confinement
Five days after his arrest, on 13 November 2011, Arya Aramnejad called his family to inform them that he was doing fine, but was not allowed any visitors. The singer’s wife, Adeleh Ziyaei, wrote on her Facebook page that she had spoken to her husband and that he was incarcerated in solitary confinement in the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in Sari.

According one of Freemuse's sources, Arya Aramnejad's wife has later on been allowed to visit her husband. These visits are only allowed under full supervision - they are never left on their own.   

Interrogated about his songs
Arya Aramnejad has told his wife that he was being interrogated about the songs he has written, but he couldn’t give her any further information about his case. According to his wife, Arya Aramnejad seemed calm and hopeful. He is not allowed to receive any books or clothing from the outside. His wife is worried because she wanted to provide him with warm clothes for the cold winter days.

There are reasons to worry about the singer's health. He has a heart condition and he is not allowed medical care. Freemuse's source has also reported that Arya Aramnejad has been fasting, as a protest against the conditions in prison.

Previous arrest
Freemuse has previously reported about the first arrest of Arya Aramnejad. After releasing the popular song ‘Ali Barkhir’ (‘Ali rise up’), he was arrested by Intelligence Ministry’s agents, charged with anti-national security activities. The arrest took place on 15 February 2010 and after spending 50 days in solitary confinement, he was convicted and sentenced to nine months in prison.

Arya Aramnejad is a Green Movement supporter. The Green Movement of Iran is a protest movement, questioning the results of the presidential elections of 2009 and demanding the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office.