Tehran: Iran’s judiciary has confirmed the death sentence of renowned Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, with a possibility of sentence reduction, as reported by state media on Thursday.
Salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, revealed to Sharq newspaper on Wednesday that an Iranian Revolutionary Court had sentenced his client to death for his involvement in the 2022-2023 unrest in Iran. Salehi was detained in October 2022 following his public support for nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman who died in police custody over wearing an “improper” hijab.
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The judiciary’s media department verified Salehi’s death sentence on Thursday, citing charges of “corruption on earth.” However, they noted that the verdict allows for a potential sentence reduction based on Salehi’s expression of remorse and cooperation with authorities.
Salehi has a window of 20 days to appeal his sentence with the Supreme Court. Should the sentence be upheld, the judiciary’s amnesty commission will review his case for possible commutation, according to the judiciary media’s department.
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In 2023, Iran’s Supreme Court rejected Salehi’s charges of “corruption on earth,” a capital offense under Iran’s Islamic laws. However, the ruling has yet to be enforced, described by Salehi’s lawyer as “an unprecedented move” by the judiciary.
The hashtag #FreeToomaj has gained traction on social media platforms, with users advocating for Salehi’s immediate release.
