SBS Dateline | Iran s Maestro

Mohammad Reza Shajarian is one of Iran’s most famous singers, but he’s rarely allowed to perform in his own country.

It’s because the maestro is an outspoken critic of the current Ahmadinejad government. He’s even been labelled a traitor, but he still refuses to be silenced by Tehran's oppressive regime.

His most recent work ‘Zaban Atash’ or ‘Language of Fire’ has become the battle cry of the opposition, as their protest videos are streamed in Iran and worldwide on YouTube.

He’s currently touring Australia with his band, so Yalda Hakim joined him in Melbourne to find out why he’s so fearless in his demands and to hear what his music means to Iranian people.

Click here to watch her report or here to see more excerpts from the concert.

Photo: Getty