Iranian rapper Toomaj, who supported protests, released from prison
Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to death earlier this year after releasing a song in support of the Mahsa Amini protests, though the ruling was overturned by the supreme court.
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been released from prison, Iran’s judiciary said on Monday, after previously having been sentenced to death for his music.
The judiciary’s Mizan News Agency reported that the artist was released after serving his one-year sentence for preaching against the government. The agency did not provide further details.
Background: Salehi, more often known by his first name, is a popular Iranian rapper from the central city of Isfahan. He is known for voicing criticism of the government in his music and was a vocal supporter of the Mahsa Amini protests that began in September of 2022. The protests started when Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in police custody after allegedly being beaten over how she was wearing her hijab. The head covering is mandatory for women in Iran.
The following month, Salehi released a song entitled “Battlefield” in which he praised the protesters and referred to the demonstrations as a “revolution.”
“It is the time of people’s anger and rebellion. It’s time to remove the opportunists,” he rapped in the song.
In April, Salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, said the rapper had been sentenced to death on the charge of “corruption on earth,” an offense that has been described as vague by rights groups. The news led to outrage on Iranian social media.
Salehi’s lawyer said he would appeal the sentence, and in June the supreme court overturned the death sentence.
Salehi’s release was celebrated by critics of the Iranian government on Monday.
Toomaj Salehi, a well-known Iranian rapper and fearless voice of “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising , is finally free from prison. This is a testament to the power of global solidarity and the impact of raising our voices for those who cannot speak for themselves.
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) December 2, 2024
Toomaj, who was… pic.twitter.com/a3iUVbedp0
Salehi’s page on X, which purports to be run by a supporter, confirmed his release but said they await the release of unspecified others who have been imprisoned.
A UN official said in November of 2022 that 14,000 people had been arrested during the protests. The protests mostly dissipated in 2023.
Know more: Salehi’s release follows the suicide of Iranian activist Kianoosh Sanjar last month. Before his death, Sanjar said on social media that he would kill himself if Salehi and three others were not released from prison.
Another Iranian musical artist, Shervin Hajipour, was sentenced to three years in prison in April over the protests. Hajipour is known for the song “Baraye,” which became an anthem of the protests. His sentence was cut in half in August following an appeal.
