Joss Stone Gets Deported From Iran

British soul singer Joss Stone says she was denied entry to Iran and deported after arriving in the Islamic republic as part of a five-year, 200-stop worldwide tour.

The 32-year-old posted a video on Instagram, in which she said, “We got detained and then we got deported.” She said that she knew Iran did not allow women to perform solo concerts.

“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,” Stone said. “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,” she added. “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.”

Under Iranian law, women are not allowed to perform solo concerts, although women can play in ensemble bands and orchestras.

Stone had earlier posted images of herself boarding a flight to Iran’s Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, which is an economic free zone that allows travel by all nationalities.

Stone had set out in 2014 to visit and perform in every country in the world and to collaborate with local musicians playing indigenous music.

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