Abbas Salimi, a Quran reciter and then an officer of Quranic activities in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, filed a complaint against Namjoo in August 2008 for "reading a number of verses of the Quran in an unusual way."

While living outside Iran, Namjoo was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “blasphemy” by Branch 1083 of the General and Revolutionary Court of Tehran Province in 2009. 

The sentence was issued in absentia and subsequently without a defense by Namjoo.

In an interview with BBC Persian about his case, on July 14, 2009, Namjoo said: "Years ago, I performed a piece for a private recording. The lyrics included an Arabic poem. I used a few verses from the Quran because they were rhythmically consistent with that piece. Before I left Iran, I was questioned about this. Late August last year, after I had left Iran, news came that Mr. Abbas Salimi, who teaches the Quran on radio and television and elsewhere, had personally filed a complaint against me."

Namjoo said that after the incident, he wrote an apology to his mother, the Iranian people and the clerics, but: "Considering the issuance of the sentence, I no longer think there is room for apology. I know what to do now. I intend to record the full piece with an orchestra this time and dedicate it to Mr. Abbas Salimi."