Amnesty International Again Calls for 'Immediate and Unconditional Release' of Tomaj Salehi

Amnesty International criticized the 'arbitrary detention' of Tomaj Salehi due to his peaceful human rights activities and the new charges brought against him, once again calling for his 'immediate and unconditional release.' This international organization linked Salehi's 'arbitrary detention' in Isfahan Central Prison to his peaceful activities, including participation in the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and posting critical comments against Iranian officials on social media. On July 19, in an open letter addressed to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Iranian judiciary, Amnesty International condemned the 'new fabricated charges' against Salehi for his peaceful exercise of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression in music and the right to peaceful assembly, and called for the 'dismissal of all charges.' Salehi's social media account on 'X' reported the formation of a new case against this imprisoned rapper with charges including 'insulting sacred values,' 'inciting violence and murder,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'spreading falsehoods to disturb public minds.' Amnesty International concluded that all trials of Tomaj Salehi have been 'severely unfair' after reviewing the arrests, beatings, formation of legal cases, the charges brought, the impositions of restrictions, and pressures on this dissident rapper. In its open letter, the human rights organization emphasized the necessity of providing necessary medical care to Tomaj Salehi, ensuring regular visits with his family and lawyers, and protecting him from torture and other ill-treatment. The organization also called for an effective, impartial, and immediate investigation into Salehi's allegations of torture and for holding accountable those suspected of committing these acts in fair courts. Furthermore, Amnesty International demanded independent observers be allowed access to the judicial processes leading to death sentences for protesters and the abolition of such sentences in Iran under the Islamic Republic. Previously, Yi Wan Ri, Salehi's political advisor, described the new charges against this protesting singer as a sign of the 'Iranian regime's fear' of Salehi and the Iranian people and announced the continuation of the struggle for Salehi's freedom. Tomaj Salehi was arrested on October 30, 2022, during the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and was sent to prison. He was released on bail a year later but was arrested again after 12 days in December 2023. The first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan tried this protesting singer on April 19 of this year, convicting him of 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion' and sentencing him to death. This ruling was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Abram Pili, the deputy special representative of the U.S. State Department for Iran, described this action as the Islamic Republic's 'pretense of flexibility' aimed at 'misleading the world' and a judicial tactic of the 'Iranian regime' to 'silence dissenters.' The song 'Typhus' exemplifies the 'case fabrication' against Tomaj Salehi; the four charges include 'insulting sacred values.' Vafa Ahmadpour, a imprisoned protesting rapper, defended himself against political charges. 'Cutting off Tomaj Salehi's phone calls' in Dastgerd prison and warnings about 'new case fabrication.'