Iran gives jail term to comedian over Ferdowsi joke amid nationalism push

A joke about a 10th century Persian poet Ferdowsi landed an Iranian female comedian a six-month prison term and mandatory homework on the bard amid the Islamic Republic's broader pivot toward nationalism following the June war with Israel.

Zeinab Mousavi had joked about the revered author of the national epic the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) in a comedy segment, incurring the stint behind bars and an order to prepare a supervised thesis on the poet.

Mousavi, known for her online satirical persona “Empress Kuzcooo” — a parody character of an elderly villager whose tightly worn hijab exposes only her nose — was convicted over the controversial segment posted on her social media in August.

The sketch, which recited verses from the Shahnameh with irreverent commentary, drew condemnation online and from prominent cultural figures who described it as an insult to Iran’s heritage.

According to a copy of the ruling published by her husband on social media, Mousavi must prepare a compulsory thesis under the supervision of the Ferdowsi Foundation and an instructor approved by the institution.

The thesis must address topics such as “Ferdowsi’s place in Iran’s national identity and culture” and “the importance of the Shahnameh in Persian literature.”

“The defendant is obligated, under the supervision of the Ferdowsi Foundation and with the guidance of an approved instructor, to prepare a compulsory thesis over a six-month period and defend it,” the verdict said.

The court also ordered her to conduct at least 120 hours of storytelling sessions for children and teenagers in underprivileged areas, using material from the Shahnameh, in coordination with the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults and the Education Ministry.

The sentencing comes as Iranian authorities move to invoke nationalism and glorify Iran’s ancient history to promote unity, emphasizing nationalist symbols more heavily in public messaging following the June war with Israel.

Symbols of Iran’s pre-Islamic past had long been shunned by the theocracy.

The Shahnameh largely recounts the tales of Iranian kings before the Arab conquest and the advent of Islam during the 7th and early 8th centuries.

Mousavi has been arrested several times on charges such as “insulting religious sanctities,” often in connection with satire aimed at the country’s compulsory hijab laws.

She was detained for around a month in October 2022 during Iran’s nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests sparked by the death in morality police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.