Album Released To Commemorate IRGC's Slain Commander

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi holds up a picture of Quds Force Commander General Qassem Soleimani as he addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, September 21, 2022
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi holds up a picture of Quds Force Commander General Qassem Soleimani as he addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, September 21, 2022

Three Iranian singers have released an album in memory of the former IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani.

Titled "Qasem is Still Alive," the album features songs by Ali Reza Eftakhari, Sadeq Ahangaran, and Gholamreza Sanatgar. Published by the Center for the Arts Music Department, the album seeks to immortalize Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in 2020.

The strike was ordered by then-President Donald Trump, who claimed Soleimani was actively planning attacks on American diplomats, service members, and members of the administration in the region.

Despite the Islamic Republic's efforts to portray Soleimani as a national hero, ordinary Iranians have expressed their discontent by setting fire to or destroying statues and banners depicting him as an icon of the Islamic autocracy.

Instances of such protests occurred during the anniversary of Soleimani's death, with people in various cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Zarinshahr, Rafsanjan, and his hometown Kerman, burning statues and posters in defiance.

Soleimani's legacy remains contentious, with many Iranians viewing him as responsible for spreading violence in the region through Iran's proxies, and contributing to violent repression at home.