{"id":16418,"date":"2018-01-18T11:51:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T19:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=films&p=16418"},"modified":"2022-03-03T12:22:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T20:22:33","slug":"when-god-sleeps","status":"publish","type":"films","link":"https:\/\/dipsy.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/when-god-sleeps\/","title":{"rendered":"When God Sleeps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Would you risk your life for what you believe in? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

When God Sleeps <\/i><\/b>is a rap-punk-rock documentary about Iranian musician Shahin Najafi, who is forced into hiding after hardline clerics issue a fatwa for his death, incensed by a rap song that focuses on the oppression of women and human rights abuses. Risking his life every time he steps on a stage, Shahin refuses to stop performing. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2012, Najafi released a satirical rap song that triggered thousands to rally in a campaign for his assassination. Incensed by the song\u2019s irreverent remarks about Ali al-Naghi, one of twelve imams revered by Shia Muslims, hardline clerics placed a $100,000 bounty on his head. \u201cMy songs didn\u2019t make me famous,\u201d said Shahin. \u201cThe fatwa did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

German journalist G\u00fcnter Wallraff, who gave refuge to Salman Rushdie after his death fatwa, offers shelter to Shahin too. Despite the threats against his life, <\/span>Shahin insists on total freedom of expression. His stubborn refusal to back down in spite of death threats is reminiscent of a suicide mission, complicating long-term planning for a new romantic relationship. Ironically, his uncompromising stance is not unlike that of the religious hardliners who want him dead. Shahin sees it as his mission, indeed his life\u2019s purpose, to stand up to oppressive religious leaders \u2014 even if he has to pay the ultimate price for it.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Would you risk your life for what you believe in? When God Sleeps is a rap-punk-rock documentary about Iranian musician Shahin Najafi, who is forced into hiding after hardline clerics issue a fatwa for his death, incensed by a rap song that focuses on the oppression of women and human rights abuses. Risking his life […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":16419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[1265,1250,1225],"class_list":["post-16418","films","type-films","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-faith","topic-music-2","topic-politics-and-government"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen God Sleeps | Film About Iranian Musician Shahin Najafi Who Lives in Hiding | Independent Lens | PBS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When God Sleeps is a rap-punk-rock documentary about Iranian musician Shahin Najafi, who is forced into hiding after hardline clerics issue a fatwa for his death.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dipsy.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/when-god-sleeps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" 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