Erfan, who goes by the stage name “Tat,” is an Iranian underground singer and rapper. Erfan Tat was arrested and detained for some time for publishing a music album, entitled Tarkash, in which he criticized the Iranian government’s policies and a number of other issues in Iranian society such as the extravagant lifestyle of the children of rich Iranian elites.

Rap and rock genres are never granted publishing licenses in Iran due to opposition from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance regarding the content of these genres of music. As such, there are many underground music companies and underground studios that operate throughout Iran.

On November 25, 2020, Erfan was arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to an unknown location. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) published the news of his arrest on December 5, 2020, stating that even ten days after Erfan’s arrest there was still no information available about his condition or whereabouts.

A number of media activists claim Erfan was arrested due to the release of Tarkash. In the album's titular track, Erfan criticizes the policies and actions of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Bahman Babazadeh, a music journalist, posted a tweet on his Twitter account in which he wrote about Erfan's arrest: “According to the managers of the music company with whom he has signed his contract, the rapper Erfan Tat was arrested in Tehran after publishing a track from his Tarkash album. The singer, who is contracted with the Fars Company [a music production company], directly attacked Hassan Rouhani in this track. So far, no official authority in Iran has confirmed the arrest.”

In a section of this track, Erfan Tat raps: “Born comfortable scandal / vain false promises / complex mass of money / the phenomenon of Rouhani / changing Quranic interpretations / resulting in a victim complex / polluted with poverty, seeking relief / we were young, youth / it was a moment of pleasure / it was forbidden and it was finished.”

Erfan Tat's Instagram page, which he personally manages, has a little over 10,000 followers. On December 7, 2020, Erfan Tat published the news of his release from detention.

Erfan did not explain the reason for his arrest and detention, writing only the word “Freedom.” 

The release and publication of music in the Islamic Republic of Iran requires a license from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Tracks, songs and music albums that are released in Iran without a music license are known as underground music.

Many Iranian rappers have been forced to leave Iran after they were arrested, such as Soroush Lashkari, Reza Naseri, Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, Yaser Bakhtiari, Bahram Nouraei, Shahin Najafi and many others. All of these individuals have been previously arrested and detained in Iran for their artistic activities.