A rapper in Iran who gained fame for his lyrics about the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and his criticism of the Islamic Republic has been sentenced to death, according to his lawyer and rights activists. The 33-year-old metal shop worker, Toomaj Salehi, received the death sentence from a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, as reported by Iran's pro-reform Shargh newspaper.
Salehi's case stems from Amini's death in 2022, which led to her arrest by police for not wearing a hijab to their liking. Salehi rapped about Amini in one of his videos, where he criticized the government's actions. He also targeted the all-volunteer Basij wing of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and referenced Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his songs.
Initially, Salehi was sentenced to six years in prison but was released after the Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court due to flaws in the original sentence. However, he was arrested again in November after claiming he was tortured following his previous arrest. State media released a video showing him blindfolded and apologizing for his words, likely under duress.
The news of Salehi's death sentence has drawn international criticism, with the United States and United Nations experts condemning Tehran's crackdown on dissent. The U.N.'s independent experts on Iran emphasized the importance of allowing art to criticize and provoke in any society.
Activists have called for Salehi's immediate release, denouncing the Iranian regime's use of the death sentence to suppress human rights and freedom of speech. The sentencing is seen as a severe response to Salehi's outspoken advocacy against state oppression and comes amidst a broader crackdown on journalists, activists, and musicians following the 'Women, Life, Freedom' demonstrations over Amini's death.
The State Department spokesperson condemned Iran's human rights abuses, labeling the regime's actions as horrific and pervasive. The use of the death sentence as a tool to silence dissent has sparked outrage and calls for solidarity in support of free speech and fundamental freedoms.
