Iranians seek return of singer from Germany
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official news agency says protesters in front of the German Embassy in Tehran are seeking return of an Iranian-born singer who went into hiding after receiving death threats.
Singer Shahin Najafi allegedly insulted a Shiite Muslim saint.
The Wednesday report by IRNA said the protesters also demanded that Germany apologize for hosting the singer, who has lived in Germany since 2005.
They called the singer an apostate.
The threats began after comments by religious authorities in Iran were taken to mean the singer insulted Islam with a song meant to be humorous.
Najafi first contacted German police about the threats May 8. A day later, an anonymous person posting on a Persian-language website put a $100,000 price on his head.
