“Shahin Najafi is the angry bard of grief for a people that is fighting for freedom.” Omid Nouripour
“Naghi” is the name of the rap song that catapulted Iranian musician and poet Shahin Najafi to world fame in dramatic fashion in the summer of 2012 when because of its lyrics a fatwa was issued that offered a bounty on his head. But we don’t know much about this young artist who has been writing and singing out tirelessly and passionately for years against repression, violence and the oppression of women in Iran.
When God Sleeps is a selection of his most important song lyrics and poems along with autobiographical texts about his childhood in Iran and his political identity. We find out more about Najafi’s path from devout reciter of the Quran to rapper and regime critic, about his conflict with religion and his life in German exile.
Supplemented by an informative foreword and commentary from Green Party representative and Iran expert Omid Nouripour, this book offers deep insights into the inner workings of modern Iranian society. An important document about a courageous political battle for freedom and justice.
