According to his attorney, an Iranian rapper who was imprisoned for endorsing anti-government demonstrations has received a death sentence.
In 2022, Toomaj Salehi‘s songs helped spark protests after the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who passed away while under police custody for reportedly donning a “improper” headscarf.
Rapper Amir Raesian, one of Mr. Salehi’s attorneys, declared that the artist will file an appeal if the death penalty was imposed.
The Iranian government has not released a statement.
According to a BBC story, Mr. Salehi was initially taken into custody in October 2022 following his public endorsement of protests, and he was accused of multiple offenses.
Due to a Supreme Court decision, he was spared the death penalty and was instead sentenced to six years and three months in jail in July 2023.
However, Mr. Salehi’s attorney claimed that in January, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan charged him with additional offenses for which he had previously been found not guilty.
Speaking to the daily Sharq on Wednesday, Mr. Raesian claimed that the revolutionary court had handed out “the harshest punishment” after issuing new accusations in defiance of the Supreme Court’s decision to grant clemency.
He was found guilty of multiple counts of earth corruption, “Baghi” (armed revolt), assembly and cooperation, disinformation against the ruling class, and instigating riots.
Mr. Salehi has 20 days to file an appeal of the decision.
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Established musician Mr. Salehi was already a well-known personality before the protests of 2022. He was prohibited from doing live performances and was forced to share his music on social media instead.
He openly condemned Iran’s regime for their corruption and repression of opposition in his songs and lyrics.
He was given a six-year prison sentence in 2023. In November of that year, he was freed on bond but was arrested again a few days later on suspicion of spreading “false claims without evidence,” which seemed to be a reference to a video message he had posted in which he claimed to have been “tortured” and coerced by agents from the intelligence ministry.
Iranian police have recently increased their street presence in an effort to enforce Islamic clothing standards for women.
The ruling by an Islamic revolutionary court seems to be a well-thought-out statement demonstrating the regime’s power and resolve to crush any kind of opposition.
