Iran lifts death penalty for rapper Toomaj Salehi – DW – 22.06.2024

Iran’s Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence against rapper Toomaj Salehi, the artist’s lawyer said on Saturday.

Salehi was detained in October 2022 after publicly supporting the major protests sparked by the death of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Salehi has also produced songs and music videos criticizing the Iranian government.

What do we know about the court’s decision?

Attorney Amir Raisian said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the court had ordered a retrial.

“The Supreme Court has prevented an irreparable miscarriage of justice,” Raisian said.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the court decision.

In April, Salehi was sentenced to death by an Iranian court for the capital crime of “corruption on earth” and found guilty of “aiding and abetting sedition.”

In January, singer Mehdi Yarrahi was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after criticizing Iran’s compulsory headscarf for women.

What was the protest movement in Iran about?

Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the city of Saqqez in Iran’s western Kurdistan province, was in Tehran when she was arrested by the morality police on suspicion of violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code by improperly wearing her hijab.

Her death in police custody was followed by mass protests and a crackdown that left hundreds of people dead, including dozens of security forces.

In connection with the protest movement, nine people were executed, including killings and violence against the security forces.

Since 1983, it has been compulsory for women in Iran to cover their necks and heads.

In recent months, Iranian police have tightened controls against women who violate state-imposed dress codes.

sdi/rm (AFP, Reuters)