TEHRAN – Iranian musician and filmmaker Bashir Biazar, who was detained and imprisoned in France under controversial circumstances, has been released and is en route back to Iran.

The Iranian presidency’s public relations division made the announcement on Wednesday, marking the end of Biazar’s month-long ordeal.

Biazar’s detention has been a topic of significant debate, with many labeling the charges against him as politically motivated. 

On June 4, Biazar was summoned by French police without any prior explanation or warrant. Upon arrival at the police station, he was arrested and subsequently transferred to a detention center typically used for illegal migrants.

Bashir Biazar, who has earned international acclaim for his work as an independent music composer and filmmaker, has a storied career. He previously served as the managing director of the New Horizon Institute of Arts and Culture and was the secretary of the London-based Islamic Student Association. Additionally, Biazar worked for many years as a production manager at the Music and Song Department of IRIB, Iran’s state broadcaster, contributing to numerous acclaimed productions.

Biazar was an independent journalist whose coverage of the latest Israeli war on Gaza had garnered significant attention on social media. Shortly after the beginning of the regime’s onslaughts against Palestinians in the besieged enclave, Biazar’s account was removed by X without prior warnings. The journalist opened up a new account, where he shared videos of anti-Israel demonstrations in France and also raised awareness about the plight of Palestinians at the hands of the regime’s cruel military. 

Biazar’s social media presence grew significantly following the events of October 7, which saw heightened conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. His commentary on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, which focused on Palestinian suffering and Western inaction, garnered widespread praise.

Many experts viewed Biazar’s arrest as an attempt to silence pro-Palestinian or anti-Zionist voices in France and other Western countries. The French interior ministry’s charges against him included "promoting or inciting terrorism" and disseminating "state propaganda" for Iran.

Le Point, a major French political news magazine, reported that the expulsion order against Biazar was signed on May 22, two weeks before his arrest. Despite a court ordering his departure from France within 28 days, Biazar remained in police custody, sparking a campaign for his release. This movement gained traction on social media, with prominent journalists, activists, artists, and academics joining the call for his immediate release. 

British journalist Richard Medhurst condemned the arrest on X, describing it as “outrageous.” He highlighted the lack of transparency and the political nature of the charges, stating, “French police summoned an Iranian musician on June 4 with no explanation, immediately arrested him for 'supporting terrorism,' and drove him 100 km to a camp meant for illegal immigrants. This is purely political and ridiculous.”

The arrest of Biazar, regarded by some analysts, was a new move by Western politicians who have been unable to exert pressure on him through his workplace, as he is an independent journalist.