Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for protesting against government

28 April, 2024

Toomaj Salehi

The Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi has been condemned to death for participating in anti-government protests in 2022, says his lawyer, sparking outcry from human rights organisations.

Salehi’s music has been critical of the Iranian regime, while he has also been particularly outspoken about the government on social media. He was involved in weeks-long protests that swept the country after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which occurred under suspicious circumstances while in police custody, and resulted in a brutal crackdown on protests by the Iranian authorities.

His lawyer confirmed via X/Twitter that an order for his execution had been issued on Wednesday (April 24) after he had been detained, held in solitary confinement and allegedly tortured following his arrest.

In an unprecedented decision, a court in Isfahan overturned the higher Supreme Court’s decision on Saleh’s case on Tuesday (April 23), upholding the original verdict of “corruption on earth”. As such, he was issued the maximum punishment of death, according to Iranian pro-reform outlets Shargh and Entekhab.

State media reported that his sentence could be reduced by a pardoning committee if he appeals again.

Salehi had spent time in prison last year and was briefly released, but according to witness testimonies, he was violently rearrested and sent him to prison in Isfahan. This happened after he revealed that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022, UN experts said in a statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Salehi isn’t the only artist to have been targeted for showing opposition to the government. The Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin, who was also arrested at the height of 2022’s protests in Iran, was taken to a psychiatric hospital twice in less than a year, per pro-reform news outlet IranWire. A court in Tehran sentenced Yasin to five years in prison, according to Kurdish human rights group Hengaw.

“We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehi’s death sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. We call for their immediate release,” the United States’ Office of the Special Envoy for Iran tweeted. “These are the latest examples of the regime’s brutal abuse of its own citizens, disregard for human rights, and fear of the democratic change the Iranian people seek.”

UN experts also called for Salehi’s release, urging Iranian authorities to reverse the death sentence.

“We are alarmed by the imposition of the death sentence and the alleged ill-treatment of Mr. Salehi which appears to be related solely to the exercise of his right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity,” the experts said.

Iranians have now taken to the streets to demand the rapper’s freedom.

Meanwhile, Salehi’s political sponsor in Europe, German Member of Parliament Ye-One Rhie, described the death sentence as “absurd and inhumane.”

“It is still completely unclear how this verdict came about,” she said. “It is unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats defendants. It is impossible to recognize the rule of law in the chaos of the courts in charge.”

The Recording Academy also released a statement on the case, saying they were “deeply troubled” by the sentencing.

“No artist should have to fear for their life or livelihood when expressing themselves through their art. Music is a powerful force for good in the world and is needed today more than ever. We stand with music creators across the globe who use their gifts to shed light on the human condition and will continue to work tirelessly to protect artistic freedom.”

Meek Mill was among the artists condemning the Iranian authorities, writing on X/Twitter, “Got sentenced to death over a song free that man wtf” on Thursday, followed by “Free toomaj!”

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