Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Given Death Sentence
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death by an Iranian revolutionary court for his involvement in the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022.
Background
Toomaj Salehi, known for his protest songs, expressed support for the widespread protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody over alleged violations of hijab rules.
Legal Proceedings
Salehi was initially detained in October 2022 for supporting the nationwide protests but was later released on bail. Despite a previous six-year and three-month prison sentence, a Supreme Court ruling overturned the death penalty. However, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan reinstated the death sentence, defying the higher court’s decision.
Response and Condemnation
The US Office of the Special Envoy for Iran has condemned Salehi’s sentence, along with the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. The office criticized the regime’s abuse of citizens and called for the immediate release of Salehi and Yasin.
