Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Sentenced to Death Over Music Criticizing Government
27.04.2024 - 17:53
/ variety.com
Sharareh Drury Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death by an Iranian revolutionary court over songs that criticized the Iranian government, according to his lawyer and state media. “An order for the execution of Toomaj Salehi has been issued,” Salehi’s lawyer Amir Raesian tweeted Wednesday.
Salehi, 33, has been arrested multiple times by Iranian forces for criticizing the regime’s corruption and suppression of protests sparked by the death of Jina “Mahsa” Amini. The 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman died while in the custody of morality police for allegedly wearing a loose headscarf.
The Recording Academy released a statement Friday evening condemning Salehi’s sentencing: “The Recording Academy is deeply troubled by the recent news regarding Toomaj Salehi. No artist anywhere should have to fear for their life or livelihood when expressing themselves through their art.
Music is a powerful force for good in the world and is needed today more than ever. We stand with music creators around the globe who use their gifts to shed light on the human condition and will continue to work tirelessly to protect artistic freedom.” Meek Mill is among artists who have also criticized Salehi’s arrest and sentencing, writing on X/Twitter, “Got sentenced to death over a song free that man wtf” on Thursday, followed by “Free toomaj!” “We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehi’s death sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin.
We call for their immediate release,” the United States’ Office of the Special Envoy for Iran wrote on Thursday. “These are the latest examples of the regime’s brutal abuse of its own citizens, disregard for human rights, and fear of the democratic change the Iranian people
.
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