Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi released from prison

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been released from prison, after Iran’s Supreme Court overturned his death sentence in June.  

Salehi was released from prison on 1 December after completing a one-year sentence for speaking out against the Iranian regime, the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported. 

In an Instagram post shared earlier today, Salehi announced on social media that he has been freed from prison.  

“Salehi, son of Iran, was released from Dastgerd Prison today, after suffering 753 days of cruel, unjust, and unjustified re-imprisonment without any reason or documented legal support,” its translated caption reads. 

The musician was arrested in October 2022 after publicly backing demonstrations which had erupted a month earlier, triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death in the custody of the country’s morality police after being detained for wearing her hijab too loosely.

A United Nations fact-finding mission said in March that Amini’s death was unlawful and was caused by “physical violence in the custody of state authorities”. It added that Iranian women still suffer systematic discrimination.

Salehi was sentenced to death in April on the capital offence of “corruption on earth”, and was also found guilty of “assistance in sedition, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the state and calling for riots”.  

The months-long protests sparked by Amini’s death saw hundreds of people killed and thousands arrested. 

Salehi is mainly known for his protest songs concerning Iran’s societal issues and the policies of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran – songs including ‘Mouse Hole’, ‘Turkmenchay’ and ‘Pomegranate.’ 

His music YouTube video posted prior to his 2022 arrest included the lyrics: “Someone’s crime was dancing with her hair in the wind / Someone’s crime was that he or she was brave and criticized… 44 years of your government / It’s the year of failure.” 

Amnesty International claimed his trial was “grossly unfair, and authorities dismissed his complaints of torture, including electric shocks, death threats and repeated beatings resulting in bone fractures and vision impairment in one eye”. 

His death sentence sparked outcry from human rights organisations and high-profile figures around the world, with more than 100 figures from the world of culture and entertainment signing a statement calling for his release.

A joint statement from Salehi’s cousin Arezou Eghbali Babadi and friend Negin Niknaam, read: “The international community’s solidarity and support have played a crucial role in the release of Toomaj Salehi. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed in any way to this outcome.” 

The statement added: “However, we must not lose sight of the unlawful and oppressive rules that continue to exert severe psychological pressure on freedom seekers, their families, and society as a whole in Iran.” 

“While we urge for Toomaj’s unconditional freedom and look forward to seeing him as soon as possible, we cannot forget the injustices we faced during this period.”