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How many of us would take our dads along with us on our biggest act of punk rebellion? In 2014, Swedish-Iranian artist Nadia Tehran did just that. They recorded an attitude-packed, punk-laden music video with their dad that brought the two even closer together. Nadia grew up in Sweden to parents who were born and bred in Iran. In 2010 when a far-right anti-immigration group rose to prominence in Sweden Nadia turned to music. In response, she wrote a song called Refugee. And Nadia wanted the video for their protest anthem recorded on the streets of Tehran, where performing music in public is forbidden for women. Nadia’s father, Toomaj, said he would come along for protection and support. There were many brushes with security officials but the video was made and received international acclaim. Later, Nadia’s debut album was nominated for Nordic Album of the Year. The success had its challenges, and in the heady aftermath, Nadia experienced a mental health breakdown. After coming out as non-binary, with their dad’s unwavering support, Nadia began to recover. They have now written a new album called Husqvarna that is out this year. If you've been affected by any of the issues in this programme, help is available at Befrienders.org or at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Sarah Kendal (Photo: Nadia Tehran and their dad Toomaj. Credit: Courtesy of Nadia Tehran)
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