Iran sentences famous Iranian rapper to death for supporting protests in 2022-2023 Reuters reports.
However, the judicial authorities specified that Toomaj Salehi is eligible for a reduced sentence.
Salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, announced yesterday that Iran’s revolutionary court had sentenced his client to death on charges related to the country’s unrest two years ago.
Salehi was arrested in October 2022 after making public statements in support of nationwide protests sparked by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman from Iran detained for wearing an “inappropriate” hijab.
Iran pardons 22,000 protesters
They were released along with tens of thousands of other prisoners
Today, the judiciary’s media department confirmed Salehi’s death sentence based on accusations of “corruption of the land”, but clarified that the sentence entitles the defendant to a reduced sentence upon “expressing remorse and cooperating with authorities.”
Salehi has 20 days to appeal his sentence to the Supreme Court. If the court decision is upheld, the Judicial Amnesty Commission will review the case and possibly commute his sentence.
In 2023, Iran’s Supreme Court dismissed charges against Salehi of “corruption of the land” – a capital offense under the country’s Islamic law. However, the decision has not been implemented, which Salehi’s lawyer called “unprecedented move” by the judiciary.
The hashtag FreeToomaj is trending on social media like X, with users calling for Salehi’s immediate release.
Human rights activists report a “shocking” increase in executions in Iran
Last year, 834 people were hanged
