Singer Joss Stone Detained & Deported From Iran [VIDEO]
Joss Stone Detained & Deported From Iran [VIDEO]
British singer Joss Stone claims that she was detained and deported from Iran. The Grammy-winning artist, who is touring across the world, explained the situation on social media. Rocking a white headscarf with a green top and nose ring to match, she told her 271k followers on Instagram,
“We got detained and then we got deported.”
She continued,
“So , our very last country on the list was Iran. We were aware there couldn’t be a public concert as I am a woman and that is illegal in this country. Personally, I don’t fancy going to an Iranian prison nor am I trying to change the politics of the countries I visit nor do I wish to put other people in danger.
However, it seems the authority’s don’t believe we wouldn’t be playing a public show so they have popped us on what they call the ‘black list ‘ as we found out when we turned up to the immigration hall. After long discussions with the most friendly charming and welcoming immigration people the decision was made to detain us for the night and to deport us in the morning.
Of course I was gutted. So close yet so far, this moment broke a little piece of my heart.
Then I realised the silver lining was bright. I told them my story and explained my mission, to bring good feeling with what I have to give and show those who want to look, the positives of our globe. All with the understanding that public performance wasn’t an option in this scenario. I still have to walk forward towards that goal some way some how. And of course music is my driver. Doesn’t mean we have to brake any laws though. There is music everywhere. Even here, we just have to play by there rules and they have to believe we will. It’s a trust thing.
They were so kind to us, at one point I started to question it. The question whirled around my head, were they just luring is into a false sense of security so we would walk into our jail cells quietly with out a drama? Nope , these people are genuinely nice kind people that felt bad that they couldn’t over ride the system. They didn’t speak English so well so the translator Mohamed, who clearly had a lovely soul conveyed the message that they hoped we would go to embassy to sort it all out and come back, they were refusing us entry with a heavy heart and were so sorry.
After Mo had left, the officers kept telling us sorry. They said sorry all the way through this process and kept saying this till we got on the plane they were sending us away on. We were the ones that should have been apologizing for not having our correct paper work. The ball.”
See the video below.
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Iranian law bans women from performing solo concerts; however, women are allowed to play in ensemble bands and orchestras. The Iranian government has yet to comment on the matter.
The “Mind, Body & Soul” singer posted pics to her IG before the incident, boarding a flight to Iran’s Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.
Stone grew up in small-town England before she was flown out to New York in early 2002 to audition for Steve Greenberg of S-Curve Records. She has since released over seven albums — four of which peaked in the Billboard 200’s Top 10 and her first three sold at least half a million copies. The UK R&B singer is also credited for opening the doors for other Blue-eyed soul singers to find success in America in the late 2000s such as Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and Adele.
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