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# Band Flees Iran After 15 Year Sentence For Playing Heavy Metal
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/band-flees-iran-after-15-year-sentence-for-playing-heavy-metal/
- Published: 2020-08-21T11:56:31.000Z
- Updated: 2020-08-21T11:56:32.000Z
- Description: Members of heavy metal band Arsames fled Iran after being sentenced to 15 years in prison for playing “Satanic music”. In a statement to Loudwire, the band said: “We [were]. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2020/08/band-flees-iran-after-15-year-sentence-for-playing-heavy-metal.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: DIY Advice & Tips, Live & Ticketing, Music Business, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 09:51

Members of heavy metal band Arsames fled Iran after being sentenced to 15 years in prison for playing “Satanic music”.

In a statement to [Loudwire](https://loudwire.com/arsames-escape-iran-sentenced-15-years-prison/?ref=hypebot.com), the band said:

> “**We \[were\] arrested in 2017 when we were in our studio during rehearsal. They moved us to jail that day and \[did\] not \[tell\] our family about where we \[were\] for a week. Finally after nearly a month later we paid bail to come out of prison and they told us you should not work, release \[or sell\] your merch until your final court … and do not talk with media!**   
>  
> **Our Instagram page, official website … banned and they shot down all for a year, but we built a new Instagram again and \[started\] to be active until few weeks ago \[when\] the court called us again and they gave us 15 years \[in\] prison. So we had to escape from Iran.”**

![Guitarists and drummer performing live on stage with vibrant red, blue, and yellow stage lighting, showcasing a dynamic concert atmosphere.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/arsames-india2010-988x416-1.jpg)

Mfaiiazi / CC BY

Arsames also posted a video to YouTube claiming to be patriotic Iranians and offering details of their trial.

> **“Is it a crime that we are playing metal music!?,” states the band in the video. “Is it \[a\] crime that we are talking about Persian history?! Is it a crime that you think we are into Satanism when we have songs about Cyrus the Great and monotheism!? Is it a crime that we love music and our country?!”**