Iran rapper famous for songs after 2022 killing of Mahsa Amini sentenced to death

On Thursday, it was reported that a rapper in Iran who gained fame for his lyrics regarding the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and criticisms of the Islamic Republic has been sentenced to death, according to his lawyer and rights activists.

The news of 33-year-old metal shop worker Toomaj Salehi's death sentence has caused confusion, as neither Iran's state-run IRNA news agency nor its judiciary have officially confirmed it. However, this development has quickly sparked international criticism from the United States and United Nations experts, who view it as another sign of Tehran's ongoing crackdown on dissent following years of widespread protests.

Toomaj Salehi

A panel of the U.N.'s independent experts on Iran stated on Thursday, “Art must be allowed to criticize, to provoke, to push the boundaries in any society.”

Reports initially emerged on Wednesday from Iran's pro-reform Shargh newspaper, indicating that Salehi had been given a death sentence by a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan. Revolutionary Courts in Iran are known for their closed-door hearings, secret evidence, and limited rights for defendants.

Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that he had been notified of the death sentence and plans to file an appeal.

Protesters hold flags and posters of Iranian hip-hop artist Toomaj Salehi who was arrested for backing anti-government protests.

Salehi's case revolves around Mahsa Amini's death in 2022, following her arrest by police for not wearing a hijab to their satisfaction. United Nations investigators attributed Amini’s death to Iran and highlighted the violent suppression of peaceful protests, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of detentions.

Salehi's songs featured lyrics referencing Amini and criticized Iran's government and paramilitary organizations. He initially received a six-year prison sentence, which was later sent back to the lower court due to sentencing errors. After his release on bail, Salehi was re-arrested in November following a video where he claimed torture during his previous arrest in October 2022.

People hold placards bearing portraits of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi (R), who is arrested in Iran, and portraits of children (L), who were killed during the protests in Iran, during a rally in support of Iranian women in Istanbul, on November 26, 2022.

Iran's judiciary has not officially acknowledged the death sentence, while IRNA mentioned “reports” of its issuance. This turn of events is unusual in Iran, indicating the seriousness with which Salehi's remarks were taken by the theocracy.

The sentencing has drawn widespread condemnation from activists and governments, with calls for Salehi's immediate release and criticism of Iran's human rights abuses, particularly its use of the death penalty to stifle dissent.