Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been released from prison, following the overturning of his death sentence by Iran’s Supreme Court in June. Salehi was released on December 1 after serving a one-year sentence for criticizing the Iranian regime, according to the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency.
In an Instagram post shared earlier today, Salehi announced his release on social media. The translated caption reads: “Salehi, son of Iran, was released from Dastgerd Prison today, after enduring 753 days of cruel, unjust, and unjustified re-imprisonment without any reason or documented legal support.”
The musician was arrested in October 2022 for publicly supporting demonstrations that began a month earlier, sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Amini was detained for wearing her hijab too loosely. A United Nations fact-finding mission concluded in March that Amini's death was unlawful and caused by “physical violence in the custody of state authorities,” adding that Iranian women still face systematic discrimination.
Salehi was sentenced to death in April on charges of “corruption on earth” and found guilty of “assistance in sedition, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the state, and calling for riots.” The protests following Amini's death resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests.
Salehi is known for his protest songs addressing Iran's societal issues and the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including tracks like 'Mouse Hole', 'Turkmenchay', and 'Pomegranate.' A music video posted before his 2022 arrest featured lyrics such as: “Someone's crime was dancing with her hair in the wind / Someone's crime was that he or she was brave and criticized... 44 years of your government / It's the year of failure.”
Amnesty International claimed his trial was “grossly unfair,” with authorities dismissing his allegations of torture, including electric shocks, death threats, and repeated beatings resulting in bone fractures and vision impairment in one eye. His death sentence sparked global outcry, with over 100 cultural and entertainment figures signing a statement calling for his release.
A joint statement from Salehi’s cousin Arezou Eghbali Babadi and friend Negin Niknaam expressed gratitude to the international community for their support in securing Salehi's release. The statement also highlighted the ongoing oppressive conditions in Iran, urging for Salehi’s unconditional freedom and acknowledging the injustices faced during his imprisonment.
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