The Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi has been condemned to dying for taking part in anti-government protests in 2022, says his lawyer, sparking outcry from human rights organisations.
Salehi’s music has been essential of the Iranian regime, whereas he has additionally been notably outspoken in regards to the authorities on social media. He was concerned in weeks-long protests that swept the nation after the dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which occurred below suspicious circumstances whereas in police custody, and resulted in a brutal crackdown on protests by the Iranian authorities.
His lawyer confirmed by way of 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 choice, a courtroom in Isfahan overturned the upper Supreme Court docket’s choice on Saleh’s case on Tuesday (April 23), upholding the unique verdict of “corruption on earth”. As such, he was issued the utmost punishment of dying, in keeping with Iranian pro-reform retailers Shargh and Entekhab.
State media reported that his sentence might be decreased by a pardoning committee if he appeals once more.
Salehi had hung out in jail final 12 months and was briefly launched, however in keeping with witness testimonies, he was violently rearrested and despatched him to jail in Isfahan. This occurred after he revealed that he was tortured and positioned in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022, UN consultants stated in an announcement printed by the Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Salehi isn’t the one artist to have been focused for exhibiting opposition to the federal government. The Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin, who was additionally arrested on the top of 2022’s protests in Iran, was taken to a psychiatric hospital twice in lower than a 12 months, per pro-reform information outlet IranWire. A courtroom in Tehran sentenced Yasin to 5 years in jail, in keeping with Kurdish human rights group Hengaw.
“We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehi’s dying sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. We name for his or her instant launch,” the USA’ Workplace of the Particular Envoy for Iran tweeted. “These are the most recent examples of the regime’s brutal abuse of its personal residents, disregard for human rights, and worry of the democratic change the Iranian folks search.”
We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehi’s dying sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. We name for his or her instant launch. These are the most recent examples of the regime’s brutal abuse of its personal residents, disregard for human rights, and worry of the…
— Workplace of the Particular Envoy for Iran (@USEnvoyIran) April 24, 2024
UN consultants additionally referred to as for Salehi’s launch, urging Iranian authorities to reverse the dying sentence.
“We’re alarmed by the imposition of the dying sentence and the alleged ill-treatment of Mr. Salehi which seems to be associated solely to the train of his proper to freedom of inventive expression and creativity,” the consultants stated.
Iranians have now taken to the streets to demand the rapper’s freedom.
Iranians worldwide have as soon as once more taken to the streets in protest in opposition to the dying sentence issued for Toomaj Salehi. They’re additionally protesting in opposition to the gender apartheid imposed by Khamenei’s regime, which ordered the morality police drive to return to the streets to wage battle… pic.twitter.com/15ERHeWlIR
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) April 28, 2024
In the meantime, Salehi’s political sponsor in Europe, German Member of Parliament Ye-One Rhie, described the dying sentence as “absurd and inhumane.”
“It’s nonetheless fully unclear how this verdict took place,” she stated. “It’s unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats defendants. It’s not possible to acknowledge the rule of regulation within the chaos of the courts in cost.”
The Recording Academy additionally launched an announcement on the case, saying they have been “deeply troubled” by the sentencing.
“No artist ought to need to worry for his or her life or livelihood when expressing themselves via their artwork. Music is a robust drive for good on the earth and is required immediately greater than ever. We stand with music creators throughout the globe who use their presents to make clear the human situation and can proceed to work tirelessly to guard inventive freedom.”
The Recording Academy @RecordingAcad requires the discharge of Iranian rapper #ToomajSalehi — who the regime in Iran has sentenced to dying; charging him with “corrupting the earth.”
The 33 12 months previous rapper has endured torture & was kidnapped off the streets. #توماج_صالحی pic.twitter.com/1vOCnnkMaL
— Samira Mohyeddin سمیرا (@SMohyeddin) April 27, 2024
Meek Mill was among the many artists condemning the Iranian authorities, writing on X/Twitter, “Acquired sentenced to dying over a tune free that man wtf” on Thursday, adopted by “Free toomaj!”
Acquired sentenced to dying over a tune free that man wtf https://t.co/kp2VnwF5yp
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) April 25, 2024
Free toomaj!
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) April 25, 2024