Iran’s supreme court revokes death sentence against rapper Toomaj Salehi.
Iran’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of popular rapper Toomaj Salehi, who had been jailed for supporting nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini, according to his lawyer Amir Raisian.
Raisian announced the decision on Saturday, noting that the Islamic Republic’s highest court had also ordered a retrial for Salehi.
Previously, in April, Salehi was handed a death sentence for the capital offense of “corruption on earth.” He was also convicted of multiple charges, including “assistance in sedition, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the state, and inciting riots.”
The 33-year-old rapper was arrested in October 2022 after he publicly supported demonstrations that erupted following Amini’s death while in police custody.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, was detained by Tehran’s morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s stringent dress code for women.
Raisian praised the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The Supreme Court prevented an irreparable judicial error.”
Also read: Iran: From Mossadegh to Mahsa Amini
He further explained that the court found Salehi’s previous sentence of six years and three months did not comply with regulations governing multiple offenses.
The protests triggered by Amini’s death led to hundreds of fatalities, including numerous security personnel, and thousands of arrests as authorities attempted to quell what they described as foreign-instigated “riots.”
Unity Prevails: Death Sentence of Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Overturned.
Thanks to everyone who echoed our voice and put pressure on the Islamic Republic in Iran. This showcases the power of unity and international pressure. However, let us not forget that this beloved rapper… pic.twitter.com/54LBtBIY7P— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) June 22, 2024
In a related incident in January, singer Mehdi Yarrahi was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for criticizing the mandatory headscarf law, although his sentence was later commuted to home confinement due to health concerns.
Nine men have been executed in connection with protest-related incidents involving violence against security forces.
The enforcement of the dress code, which has required women to cover their heads and necks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has become stricter following the protests.
In recent months, Iranian police have intensified their efforts, launching a campaign dubbed “Noor” to target dress code violations.
Authorities have also closed down cafes and restaurants that do not enforce the hijab rule, and the parliament has approved a draft “Chastity and Hijab” law aimed at imposing harsher penalties on women who defy the dress regulations.
