Khamenei edict won't kill Iran's music: radio host

The host of a Persian radio show in Ottawa is optimistic that Iran will continue to produce good music, in spite of a statement by the country's supreme leader this week that music is not compatible with the highest values of the Islamic republic.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that young people would be better to spend their time learning science and in "healthy recreations," such as sports, instead of studying music.

Mehdi Fallahi plays Persian music on his weekly program at Carleton University's student radio station CKCU, and he gets regular CDs from Iran. But they are CDs that have been checked by Iranian censors.

"Remember, everything in Iran is political. They [check] through every verse in lyrics, and say, 'eliminate that, eliminate that,'" Fallahi said.

In the 30 years since Iran became an Islamic republic, it has prohibited musicians from keeping instruments in their homes, and banned women from singing.

But, Fallahi said, if anything, even more music is coming out of Iran today.

"Some people produce music in the basement and underground, and they send it out through the internet. What can they do about internet?"

That's why Fallahi doesn't believe Khamenei's statementwill frighten young people away from music.

He said the comments will likely hamper music production for a little while.But, Fallahi said, musicians in Iran will ultimately find a way to do what they love.

"I spoke to someone in Iran, a musician. I cannot tell you his name, but he said he wasn't too much worried about that," Fallahi said.