This is the moment a teenage Iranian rapper is arrested for singing with a heavyweight cop lying on top of her calling for backup because women are banned from singing in the Islamic Republic.

The young woman had shortly before been rapping in a group of men and is later seen lying on the ground with the arresting officer lying on top of her.

The slightly built young woman can be heard saying “I can’t breathe” as the man continues to lie there and refuses to budge.

Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad posted the video on social media, claiming that 18-year-old rapper Sara was arrested for singing and that it is an offence for women to sing in public in the Islamic Republic.

Alinejad said the incident was filmed in the city of Borazjan in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr and the activist shared the footage on Twitter on 27th May.

Alinejad accompanied the clip with the message: “‘I can’t breathe’ says Sara 18-year-old Iranian female rapper, brutally arrested in the city of Borazjan.

“Her crime? She dared to sing in a country where singing is forbidden for women.”

The Iranian journalist added: “Her close friend told me: No one knows where she’s detained. We are all worried. Be her voice.”

In the video, a heavyset cop is seen sitting on the young woman’s back while using his phone, apparently to request backup.

The journalist has yet to tweet any updates on Sara’s arrest.

According to Sahar Taati, former director at the music department of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, public singing by women is not a clear-cut offence as no law specifically bans it in the Islamic Republic.