ADD YOUR NAME

Rapper Toomaj Salehi is facing new charges after his death sentence and conviction was overturned in June.

Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi is arbitrarily detained in an Iranian prision in relation to his peaceful activities, including participation in the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising and social media posts critical of the Iranian authorities. After the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence in June 2024, he is now facing new spurious charges in separate proceedings solely for peacefully exercising of human rights, including freedom of expression through his music. 

The authorities arbitrarily arrested Toomaj Salehi on 30 October 2022 and subjected him to enforced disappearance for a month by refusing to disclose his whereabouts to his family. During this time, his forced “confessions” were first aired on state television in early November 2022.

On 18 November 2023, after he was released on bail, he said in a video posted online that he was tortured during arrest, including through repeated beatings, resulting in fractures in his hands and leg, and loss of consciousness for two days. He was also subjected to prolonged solitary confinement for eight to nine months.

Toomaj was re-arrested on 30 November 2023; and authorities continue to deny him access to adequate healthcare, including for his torture-related injuries in his leg and hands, for which he needs surgery and pain relief

An informed source told Amnesty International that intelligence agents interrogated Toomaj Salehi again without a lawyer present in relation to two new cases both solely stemming from his peaceful activities, including his new song released in March 2024 while imprisoned. He was charged in two cases in the same day.

In the first case before the Revolutionary Court, he is charged with “spreading propaganda against the system” and “inciting people to war and killing with the intention to disrupt national security”. In the second case before a criminal court, he is charged with “insulting religious sanctities” and “spreading lies with the intention of disturbing public opinion”. If convicted, he faces prolonged imprisonment.

Please sign the petition calling for Toomaj's immediate and unconditional release.

 

 

Sign the Petition

Our Petition
 
 

Head of judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei 
c/o His Excellency Mr Ahmad Sadeghi, Ambassador of Iran,

 

Dear Mr Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei,

Rapper Toomaj Salehi, 33, is arbitrary detained in Esfahan central prison, Esfahan province, in relation to his participation and support of the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising, his music, publicly condemning Iranian authorities’ oppression and executions, and calling for human rights and freedom for people in Iran. On 22 June 2024, Toomaj Salehi’s lawyer posted on X [formerly Twitter] that that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court overturned Toomaj Salehi’s conviction and death sentence for “corruption on earth” (efsad fel arz), which was imposed by Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court in Esfahan in April 2024 following a grossly unfair trial. He added that the Court would send the case to “an equivalent [lower court] branch for further proceedings”.

An informed source told Amnesty International that the case was referred to Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court of Esfahan by 7 July 2024, noting that the charges remained unknown. The source added that on 10 July 2024, intelligence agents interrogated Toomaj Salehi again without a lawyer present in relation to two new cases both solely stemming from his peaceful activities, including his new song released in March 2024 while imprisoned. He was charged in two case the same day. In the first case before the Revolutionary Court, he is charged with “spreading propaganda against the system” and “inciting people to war and killing with the intention to disrupt national security”. In the second case before a criminal court, he is charged with “insulting religious sanctities” and “spreading lies with the intention of disturbing public opinion”. If convicted, he faces prolonged imprisonment.

The authorities arbitrarily arrested Toomaj Salehi on 30 October 2022 and subjected him to enforced disappearance for a month by refusing to disclose his whereabouts to his family. During this time, his forced “confessions” were first aired on state television in early November 2022. On 18 November 2023, after he was released on bail, he said in a video posted online that he was tortured during arrest, including through repeated beatings, resulting in fractures in his hands and leg, and loss of consciousness for two days. He was also subjected to prolonged solitary confinement for eight to nine months. He was re-arrested on 30 November 2023; and authorities continue to deny him access to adequate healthcare, including for his torture-related injuries in his leg and hands, for which he needs surgery and pain relief.

I call on you to immediately and unconditionally release Toomaj Salehi, as he is held solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights, and drop all charges against him related to exercising his right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Pending his release, provide Toomaj Salehi with adequate healthcare and regular visits with his family and lawyers; and protect him from further torture and other ill-treatment. A prompt, independent, effective and impartial investigations into his torture allegations must be conducted, with those suspected of criminal responsibility brought to justice in fair trials. I further urge you to grant independent observers access to protest-related capital trials and immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view of abolishing the death penalty.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]