An Iranian musician has been sentenced to death over songs criticising the Islamic Republic, according to his lawyer and rights activists.
An execution order has been issued for Toomaj Salehi, a 33-year-old rapper from Iran known for his outspoken lyrics addressing the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, his lawyer Amir Raisian said. The news, although not officially confirmed by Iran's state-run media or judiciary, has sparked international outcry.
Toomaj, a metal shop worker, rose to fame for his music, which openly criticised the government and addressed social issues in Iran. His lyrics, which highlighted Mahsa's death and condemned the government's crackdown on dissent, earned him both popularity and notoriety.
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Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper, sentenced to death for criticizing the government (Toomaj/Youtube)The sentencing, reported by Iran's pro-reform Shargh newspaper, stated that Toomaj received the death penalty from a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, a city recently targeted by a suspected Israeli attack. Revolutionary Courts in Iran are known for their closed-door proceedings and limited rights for defendants.
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Amir, Toomaj's lawyer, confirmed the death sentence and stated his intention to appeal the decision. Toomaj's case stems from Mahsa's death in 2022 after her arrest by police for not wearing a hijab to their liking.
United Nations investigators say Iran was responsible for Mahsa’s death, and that it violently put down largely peaceful protests in a month-long security crackdown that killed more than 500 people and saw more than 22,000 detained.
Toomaj rapped about Mahsa in one video, saying: "Someone’s crime was dancing with her hair in the wind." In another verse, he predicts the downfall of Iran’s theocracy. “Your whole past is dark, the government that took the light out of the eyes. ... We go from the bottom of the pyramid and knock to the top. ... Forty-four years of your government, this is the year of failure.”
Salehi's lyrics addressed the death of Mahsa Amini and the government crackdown on dissent (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
The death sentence was reported by Iran's pro-reform Shargh newspaper (DAILY MIRROR)His other songs vulgarly criticised the all-volunteer Basij wing of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as well as referencing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Toomaj's music and activism have drawn attention from international bodies, including the United Nations and the United States. The UN's independent experts on Iran condemned the sentence, emphasising the importance of freedom of expression in society.
The news sparked an international outcry, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
This sentencing is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Iran, with journalists, activists, and musicians being targeted for their criticism of the government. The international community has condemned Iran's use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Toomaj initially received a six-year prison sentence but had been released after Iran's Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court over flaws in his original sentence. He was released on bail but then arrested again in November after saying in a video message that he was tortured after his arrest in October 2022.
Revolutionary Courts in Iran are known for closed-door proceedings and limited rights (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)State media at the time released a video showing him blindfolded and apologising for his words, a statement likely made under duress. Iran's judiciary did not acknowledge the death sentence, while IRNA referred to “reports” he received it.
To have a death sentence issued on a reversal of a lesser sentence is highly unusual in Iran, possibly signifying just how seriously Iran's theocracy had taken Toomaj's remarks. It also comes as other journalists, activists and musicians have been targeted since the “Women, Life, Freedom” demonstrations over Mahsa. An Iranian singer who won a Grammy presented by US First Lady Jill Biden was sentenced to more than three years in prison over his anthem supporting the 2022 protests,
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Salehi's lawyer confirmed the death sentence and plans to appeal (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Activists immediately criticised the sentence. “This grotesque manipulation of the judicial process aims to silence dissent,” Hadi Ghaemi of the New York-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran said. “Toomaj’s imprisonment stems from his vocal advocacy against state oppression. It is imperative that supporters of free speech and dissent unite to demand his immediate release.”
The sentencing also drew criticism from Washington. “This is just another example of the Iranian regime’s horrific and pervasive human rights abuses,” State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said Wednesday. “We once again condemn the Iranian regime’s ... use of the death sentence as a tool to suppress people’s human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
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