May 22, 2024

Fighting Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi’s death sentence

topic:	Human Rights
located:	Iran
editor:	Gloria Rosary

The latest execution sentence from the Iranian regime targets Toomaj Salehi, a prominent Iranian rapper renowned for his outspoken criticism of the government. Salehi gained popularity for his bold lyrics, which address sensitive political issues and directly challenge the authorities.

Salehi was initially arrested in 2021 for his song lyrics, which criticised the government. He was subsequently released but continued to produce and publish politically charged music. His most significant arrest came in October 2022, following his vocal support for the protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini's death. Initially, Salehi faced several charges, including "corruption on Earth," assembly and collusion, propaganda against the ruling establishment, and inciting riots. In July 2023, he was sentenced to six years and three months in prison, avoiding the death sentence due to a Supreme Court ruling. He was then released on bail in December 2023.

Shortly after his release, Salehi published a video in which he spoke out about the severe torture he had endured while in prison, claiming he had been subjected to physical and psychological abuse. This video led to his re-arrest just two weeks later, as authorities accused him of spreading "false claims without evidence."

In January 2024, the Islamic Republic Revolution Court of Isfahan sentenced Toomaj Salehi to death. Salehi’s  lawyer, Amir Raesian, pointed out the contradictions in the revolutionary court's decision, especially considering the Supreme Court had previously ruled that Salehi’s case qualified for amnesty. He expressed his determination to appeal the death sentence, criticising the legal process as flawed and highlighting the "obvious legal conflicts" in the case.

Toomaj Salehi is not the only rapper in jail. Saman Yasin, a Kurdish-Iranian artist also faced severe repercussions for his involvement in the 2022 protests. Yasin was initially sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later overturned in December 2022, and he was instead sentenced to five years in exile.

Support for Toomaj Salehi has come from a wide range of groups and individuals, both within Iran and internationally. Prominent artists and musicians, including Coldplay and Sting, signed a statement organised by the advocacy group Index on Censorship, calling for his release. They expressed that death sentence for an artist is a horrifying and unimaginable punishment, striking at the very core of creative freedom and expression. Additionally, United Nations human rights experts and the United States’ Office of the Special Envoy for Iran have  demanded Salehi’s release and criticised the Iranian regime's treatment of him. This unprecedented support underscores the global outrage over his sentencing and the broader issues of artistic censorship and capital punishment in Iran.

Preventing capital punishment in Iran, particularly for political dissidents and artists, requires a multifaceted approach with sustained international pressure from foreign governments, advocacy groups and media as an important tool to push for policy changes in Iran.

Image by Shima Abedinzade.