Nigel Wrench writes: "This is the veteran pop star deemed so dangerous in his home
country that he's banned there.
Ebrahim Hamedi, known to his fans as Ebi, sings in Farsi, which may be why you've
never heard of him.
In Iran, his songs are listened to illicitly. He's not been there since before the
Islamic revolution in 1979, so won't be there to celebrate Persian new year on Saturday.
Mr Hamedi has been in London to record an acoustic concert for the BBC's Persian
Television Service, to be broadcast at the weekend, and I've been speaking to him
for tomorrow's PM.
Here's another picture from that session at Bush Hall, West London (all our photographs
are by Saaed Jodat).
His voice is famous in concert halls from Sydney to Los Angeles. Think Tom Jones
with added politics. Because it's his lyrics that have upset the authorities in
Teheran.
Take his song "Tasmim", which means "decide" in Farsi, released just before last
year's elections:
"Iran has given us such courage
Our Iran, is in ruins while our lions are in this condition
Our Iran, is in ruins while our elders remain asleep
Yes, say it that you won't be sleeping
Yes, say you wont allow it".
The video is
here. If you spool through to
the last image, you'll see his message in not-so-subtle metaphor.
Final "treat". This reporter with the Iranian star.
Ebi's at the Royal Albert Hall next month in a charity concert, if you happen to
be in London."
Reference :
BBC Website