TEHRAN: Iran’s morality police have arrested a popular underground singer dubbed Amir Tataloo whose songs the Islamic republic deems inappropriate, the reformist daily Etemad reported on Wednesday.

“Police will confront this group of people. Recently a singer named Tataloo has been arrested and (his case) referred to the judiciary,” it cited morality police chief Col. Massud Zahedian as saying.

“Thanks be to God, both (state-run) television and the culture ministry have paved the way for the activities of artists,” the ISNA news agency reported Zahedian as saying.

“Underground (musicians) must stop and channel their work through legal and real frameworks.” Tataloo — real name Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo — began singing in 2003 and his style is a mix of pop, rap and rhythm and blues, according to websites. He has attracted more than 570,000 fans on one of his Facebook pages.

“What is this nonsense about his arrest? I want my Amir, otherwise I will commit suicide,” read one comment in Farsi posted by fan called Frina Linson. The Etemad report added that the singer has been charged with security-related issues. Under Iran’s Islamic law, musicians must be officially approved by the Culture Ministry.