Iranian pop icon Googoosh has revealed that her new music will release only after the current Islamic Republic regime in Tehran falls.
"I prefer to leave my artistic work for a day when the Islamic Republic no longer exists in my country," she told AP. Her remarks come as younger Iranians voice their objections to strict hijab laws in a country, which is already grappling with geopolitical isolation and economic sanctions.
She said the youth of Iran, especially women, are fighting for their basic rights. "They struggle for clean water, clean air, and land where they can live. Our young people grew old without ever enjoying their youth. Our people must end this painful cycle and gain the freedoms every human being deserves," she added.
Who is Googoosh aka Faegheh Atashin?
Googoosh, whose real name is Faegheh Atashin, is not just a pop icon. The 75-year-old was a former actress who starred in more than 25 Persian movies released in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. She was a role model for the Iranian women of the time, with many emulating her style. The most popular hairstyle among women was a short haircut called Googooshi, inspired by the pop icon herself. Googoosh even performed for the royal family several times, including during the 17th birthday of then crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who later ascended as the Shah.
However, things changed with the 1979 revolution, following which the Shah went in exile. In 1980, she was imprisoned for around a month. Googoosh stayed in Tehran until 2000 but she did not perform for 21 years due to ban on female signers. Later she revealed that she remained in Iran "out of love for her homeland."
After the hiatus, she travelled to Canada in 2000 and sang for the first time in 21 years in Toronto. The same year, she released her comeback album, Zarosht (Zoraster).
On December 2, she published her memoir, Googoosh: A Sinful Voice, co-written with Tara Dehlavi.