Rapper Hossein Afrasiab sentenced to nearly four years in prison

Hengaw – Thursday, September 10, 2026

The Iranian judiciary has sentenced Hossein Afrasiab, a rapper and songwriter who has been held in Isfahan Central Prison (Dastgerd Prison) for more than six months, to three years, nine months and 20 days in prison.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the Shahin Shahr Revolutionary Court sentenced Afrasiab, a resident of Shahin Shahr, for possessing satellite internet equipment (Starlink). His trial was held on July 22, 2026.

The court initially sentenced Afrasiab to five years and one month in prison, citing provisions allowing enhanced punishment under wartime conditions. Following an appeal and reconsideration of the case, the sentence was reduced in the final ruling to three years, nine months and 20 days.

Intelligence Department forces arrested Afrasiab at the entrance to Shahin Shahr on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Plainclothes forces raided his vehicle and arrested him with force, without presenting a warrant.

Following his arrest, Afrasiab was transferred to the security ward known as “Alef-Ta” at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, where he was denied all family visits for more than 50 days.