Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who gained prominence for his protest songs and social media posts supporting the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, has been sentenced to death by an Iranian court. The charges leading to Salehi's death sentence include 'corruption on Earth,' which covers a broad range of offenses including those related to Islamic morality and can carry the death penalty.
Salehi was initially arrested for showing support for anti-government protests and writing songs about the unrest. He was freed on bail in November 2022 after the Supreme Court found 'flaws' in his initial six-year prison sentence, but he was rearrested less than two weeks later.
The court did not implement the Supreme Court's ruling, and Salehi's lawyer will appeal against the sentence. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands more were arrested during the months of unrest that followed Amini's death in September 2022. Iranian officials called the protests 'riots' and accused foreign enemies of fomenting the unrest.
Toomaj Salehi, a prominent Iranian hip hop musician, was sentenced to death by an Iranian court for his protest lyrics and social media posts supporting nationwide protests following Mahsa Amini's death in September 2022. The charges leading to Salehi's death sentence include 'corruption on Earth,' which covers a broad range of offenses including those related to Islamic morality and can carry the death penalty.
Salehi was arrested for showing support for anti-government protests, following the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September 2022. He had also written songs about the protests. The court did not implement the Supreme Court's ruling in an unprecedented move, and Salehi's lawyer will appeal against the sentence.
The rapper was initially sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court but was freed on bail. He was rearrested less than two weeks later. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands more were arrested during the months of unrest that followed Amini's death in September 2022.
Iranian officials called the protests 'riots' and accused Tehran's foreign enemies of fomenting the unrest. Toomaj Salehi, a popular Iranian rapper, was sentenced to death for backing protests following Mahsa Amini's death in September 2022. The court that sentenced Salehi referred to the Supreme Court's decision as 'advice.' His lawyer intends to file an appeal due to inconsistencies in the new verdict.
