Iran's most famous male dancer, who lives and performs in Los Angeles, has been jailed on charges of promoting corruption amongst youths during a visit to his home country, a relative said Wednesday.
Mohamad Khordadian's dance programs are widely watched by Iranian expatriates and many inside Iran on LA-based, Persian-language satellite television channels.
Khordadian, who arrived in the Islamic Republic’s capital earlier this month, was detained and charged by a Tehran court with promoting corruption among youths through his performances, said a relative who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to AP.
He added Khordadian was being held in Evin prison, north of Tehran, and was expected to be released within days. The relative provided no further details and it wasn't clear when, or if, a trial would be held.
Meanwhile, an Iranian artist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the arrest was for forming dance classes for women in Iran during his visits to the country, rather than for broadcasts of his performances in the United States.
Court officials were not available for comment Wednesday.
Days before traveling to Iran, Khordadian said on his television program that he had a "big dream," said Abdolreza Nasseri, one of the dancer's fans inside Iran.
"Khordadian said his biggest dream was to visit all Iranian cities and perform dances with his group on the back of a huge open truck wearing the traditional clothes of every city he visits," Nasseri said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
