Arash Chakeri

Arash Chakeri, is an Iranian writer, poet, and singer-songwriter. In 2003, Chakeri published his first collection of ghazals, Loneliness, without a license from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Three years later, a second poetry anthology, Guitar Tears (2006) faced censorship from the Ministry, which forced him to delete a number of his poems about underground political and social activism.

Though his songs had been well received and highly downloaded, Chakeri continued to face harassment from security forces and Islamlic authorities. In his call for freedom and democracy in Iran, he faced escalating pressures. On numerous occasions, Chakeri was attacked, arrested, and threatened. In November 2013, Chakeri was arbitrarily detained and questioned about his public criticism of the state in his recent publication of his novel I was dead, which is now banned from publication in Iran. Of particular concern has been the reception of his latest song ‘Made in China,’ for which he reports of harrasment du to content critical of the Iranian government.

In 2015, Arash Chakeri decided to leave Iran and is the 2016-17 guest writer for Brussels city of refuge. 

Publications

1. Lonliness, a collection of sonnets, 2003, Farhamin Publications

2. The Tears of Guitar, a collection of modern poems, Shouka Publications, 2006, ISBN: 978-964-8005-30-1

3. Small Keys for Large Doors, a novel, focusing on the psychology of success, 2010 ISBN: 978-964-04-6082-5

4. I Was Dead, a novel on the philosophy of existentialism, 2013,  ISBN: 978-964-04-9094-5

5. Your Interpreter, anthology of several private songs, 2013, ISBN :978-964-04-9996-2

6. So Much Triality, a collection of the lyrics which have been sung throughout the years, under publication