Toomaj Salehi, the protesting rapper, Faces Imprisonment and Additional Penalties
Tumaj Salehi, the protesting rapper who was re-arrested by security forces in De
Hengaw: Monday, January 1, 2024
Toomaj Salehi, the protesting rapper who was re-arrested by security forces in December of this year, has been sentenced to one year in prison along with supplementary penalties by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to a report obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court recently handed down a verdict, condemning Toomaj Salehi to one year of imprisonment, a two-year revocation of his passport, and mandatory participation in a "behavior management" class.
Amir Raisian Firouzabad, Toomaj Salehi's lawyer, detailed the sentence: "Toomaj Salehi, who had voiced complaints against the officers handling his case through a video message, received a one-year prison sentence from the judge of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court branch, along with a two-year revocation of his passport and mandatory enrollment in a behavior management."
Furthermore, the second part of Tumaj Salehi's case, involving the charge of "spreading falsehoods in cyberspace," has been referred to Isfahan Criminal Court Branch 2.
On November 30, 2023, Tumaj Salehi was forcefully re-apprehended by armed security forces in the city of Babol, subsequently being transported to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
Toomaj Salehi, having served one year and 21 days of imprisonment, with 252 days in solitary confinement, was temporarily released from Isfahan Central Prison on Saturday, November 18, 2023, after posting bail pending the completion of court proceedings.
This rapper was coerced into confessing under torture on November 2, 2023, as evidenced by a video published by government media, revealing bruises and severe beatings on the face and body of the 33-year-old man.
The first court session for this protesting rapper occurred on June 18, 2023, following eight months of detention. On July 2, 2023, his second hearing took place in Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.
In July 2023, Toomaj Salehi received a sentence of 6 years and 3 months in prison for the charge of "corruption on earth" and was acquitted of charges such as "insulting Khomeini," "insulting Khamenei," and "connection with a hostile state." As an additional penalty, he was banned from leaving the country.
The rapper was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2023, amid the protests of the revolutionary movement "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" in Gerd Bisheh village, Gandoman District, Borujen County, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari Province, and he remains in detention.
