Iran officials stop deaf girls’ sign language song, say it resembles dancing
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iranian officials have prevented a group of deaf girls from performing a song in sign language because their body movements resemble dancing, which is outlawed in public spaces in the Islamic Republic.
The performance, about Imam Reza, the 8th Imam of Shia people, was organized for Ramadan month. The group performed twice on Friday at the Grand Mosalla of Tehran before officials asked them to stop.
“Unfortunately those who do not understand disabled people came and easily cancelled the performance,” the group’s director said, according to BBC Persian.
There are around 1.5 million people with disabilities in Iran, 225,000 of them suffering some degree of deafness, Iran’s deputy health director told MEHR News agency last year.
Deafness is a hidden disability. Each government institution in Iran is mandated to hire at least one employee who knows sing language in order to assist deaf visitors.
Jabbar Baghcheban established Iran’s first schools for the deaf in the 1920s. His legacy is remembered during the final week of September, international Deaf Awareness Week.
The performance, about Imam Reza, the 8th Imam of Shia people, was organized for Ramadan month. The group performed twice on Friday at the Grand Mosalla of Tehran before officials asked them to stop.
شب گذشته در حین اجرای این ترانه مناسبتی با #زبان_اشاره به دستور مسئول مربوطه که در آخر فیلم ملاحظه میکنید به دلیل برابر دانستن با «حرکات موزون» از ادامه آن جلوگیری شد! pic.twitter.com/pzbtfdIqud
— کمپین معلولان (@dscampaign1) May 27, 2018
“Unfortunately those who do not understand disabled people came and easily cancelled the performance,” the group’s director said, according to BBC Persian.
There are around 1.5 million people with disabilities in Iran, 225,000 of them suffering some degree of deafness, Iran’s deputy health director told MEHR News agency last year.
Deafness is a hidden disability. Each government institution in Iran is mandated to hire at least one employee who knows sing language in order to assist deaf visitors.
Jabbar Baghcheban established Iran’s first schools for the deaf in the 1920s. His legacy is remembered during the final week of September, international Deaf Awareness Week.