First Court Session of Amir Tataloo Held with Reading of Indictment

The first court session of Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Amir Tataloo, was held in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran with the reading of the indictment. Government media did not mention the charges attributed to him. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, reported on Tuesday, March 5, that the court session "ended after the reading of the indictment to prepare the defendant and lawyer." Details of the court proceedings, the charges against this pop singer, and what was mentioned in the indictment have not been disclosed by government media, but it was noted that Tataloo's mother and sister were present in court and met with him. The session also included the "court advisor, the defendant's lawyer, and the representative of the prosecutor," and the date for the next court session has not yet been announced. In previous days, a group of legal advisors warned that given the "legal jurisdiction of the Islamic Revolutionary Courts and Prosecutor's Offices" and based on the charges attributed to Tataloo, "it seems that the Tehran prosecutor's office has attributed the charge of corruption on earth to this singer." Additionally, the state-run IRIB news agency claimed that "one of the most important actions" of Amir Tataloo was "spreading corruption and prostitution" and calling for the presence of minors under 18 at his residence in Istanbul. The Mehr news agency also claimed that Tataloo confessed during interrogation to engaging in what has been termed "anti-cultural and obscene actions, especially using immoral and sexual issues to gain more visibility." Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, was handed over to the Islamic Republic authorities by Turkish police at the Bazargan border with Iran on December 6 and was transferred to Tehran following his arrest by judicial order. The spokesperson for the judiciary also previously stated that several cases have been opened against Amir Tataloo that are currently under investigation. It is unclear whether this imprisoned singer has had access to a lawyer and legal advisor after his arrest, but according to previous similar reports and statements from international human rights organizations, Iranian judicial authorities prevent detainees from accessing their chosen lawyers at this stage. Qassem Baadi, a lawyer, previously told VOA that given the history of the Iranian judiciary, "a fair trial is not in store for Tataloo." Shahla Shafigh, a sociologist, stated in an interview with VOA that Tataloo is a product of a society where "forbidden love and rape" are legitimized.