Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death for his participation in the 2022 protests against the government. This was confirmed by his lawyer, Amir Raesian, who announced via Twitter that an execution order has been issued. Salehi, 32, experienced solitary confinement and alleged torture following his detention. His charges, upheld by a court in Isfahan, include "corruption on earth," a term often used in Iran to describe severe crimes against the state, warranting the death penalty as reported by Shargh and Entekhab, Iranian pro-reform news outlets.
Further context reveals that Salehi had been vocally critical of the Iranian regime through his music and social media platforms. After a brief period of release, he was re-arrested, which he claimed was due to his public disclosure of being tortured and held in solitary for 252 days.
Additionally, the U.S. Office of the Special Envoy for Iran has condemned Salehi's sentencing and that of another Kurdish-Iranian rapper, Saman Yasin, advocating for their immediate release and highlighting these cases as indicative of the Iranian government's broader disregard for human rights and suppression of democratic aspirations.
State media notes that Salehi's death sentence might be reconsidered by a pardoning committee if he seeks another appeal.
Cuba Gooding Jr. has expressed his deep concern and stated that he will continue to pray for Toomaj Salehi's safety and freedom.