Global Support for Tomaj Salehi; Protesting Pensioners in Ahvaz: 'Tomaj is a Nation, Free the Nation'

As protests by Iranians take place in various cities around the world against the death sentence issued for Tomaj Salehi, pensioners from the Social Security Organization, who gather weekly to protest their living conditions and the authorities' neglect of their demands, also chanted against the death sentence for this protest rapper, saying: 'Tomaj is a nation, free the nation' and 'Tomaj Salehi must be freed.' In other reactions, renowned Iranian director Jafar Panahi, responding to the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, published a text recounting a brief meeting with the artist during his leave and quoted him saying: 'I could hear the sound of my bones breaking.' Panahi recalled the days when Salehi was on leave, writing: 'He called to say he had come to Tehran for treatment. We arranged a short meeting. He had a smile on his face and was in high spirits.' Panahi, who met Tomaj Salehi in Tehran along with another renowned director, Mohammad Rasoulof, quoted him saying: 'The only thing I was upset about in prison was that I couldn't exercise for the first few months. When I was arrested, I was tortured for twelve hours. Since I used to box before my arrest, I could tolerate the pain. But they injected me so that I wouldn't lose consciousness and feel the pain more. I could hear the sound of my bones breaking.' Panahi continued after this quote: 'At that time, Mohammad and I could hardly bear to hear these breaks. But we were happy to see him sitting in front of us with his beautiful smile and free. But now, after this medieval sentence, it is our duty not to break the heart of the son of Iran with our inaction.' Tomaj Salehi, alongside Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, has seen protests from Iranians and international figures escalate following the announcement of his death sentence last week. In recent days, in reaction to the news of the death sentence for this imprisoned artist, the UN fact-finding mission, the UN Special Rapporteur for monitoring human rights in the Islamic Republic, and several international organizations separately condemned the issuance of this sentence and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Tomaj Salehi. Tomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper opposed to the Islamic Republic, was arrested in early November 2022 in connection with nationwide protests and sent to prison. He was released on bail a year later but was arrested again a few days later and sent to prison in Isfahan. On April 30, 2023, he was tried in the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan on charges of 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion,' and his death sentence was communicated to his lawyers on May 25. The death sentence for Salehi was issued while, according to his lawyer Mostafa Neyli, Tomaj had been acquitted of the charge of 'corruption on earth' in last year's proceedings and 'was subject to the leader's pardon.' As this lawyer stated, Tomaj Salehi's case was based on 'the protest events of 2022,' and another case was opened against him related to his interview after being released on bail. This lawyer emphasized that 'a one-year sentence was issued against Tomaj for this interview, and there is nothing else in this regard.' Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer, stated in an interview with Iranian media that 'like many of my legal colleagues, I believe this sentence will be overturned, but the question must be answered as to how the irreparable costs resulting from such sentences in the domestic and foreign arenas will be compensated.' On Saturday, May 8, 2023, thousands of Iranians in various European cities, including Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, and Hanover in Germany, Stockholm and Malmö in Sweden, Copenhagen in Denmark, Prague, London, Paris, and many other cities, gathered and demanded the repeal of death sentences issued by the Islamic Republic against protesters like Tomaj Salehi, Mojahid Korkor, Reza Rasai, and Abbas Daris. Protesters also called on European officials to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and to shut down centers related to the Islamic Republic and cut diplomatic and economic relations with it. In the United States and Canada, Iranian expatriates and opponents of the Islamic Republic in cities like New York, San Francisco, Washington, and Montreal said 'no' to the death sentence in Iran and simultaneously expressed solidarity with the freedom-seeking women of Iran in their struggle against the repressions of the Islamic Republic. On the international front, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at the White House, condemned the issuance of the death sentence for Iranian rapper Tomaj Salehi and called for his immediate release, stating in a post on social media platform X: 'Tomaj's voice amplifies the hopes of the people of Iran and all those silenced by the Iranian regime.' Michelle Taylor, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, also condemned the 'death sentence' for Tomaj Salehi on social media, stating: 'Tomaj's voice represents the hopes of the people of Iran and all those forced into silence by the regime. The Islamic Republic continues to use the death penalty as a tool for the brutal suppression of dissent.' Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi also called on the United Nations and all human rights organizations to spare no effort in securing his freedom. Additionally, Amjad Amini, the father of Mahsa Amini, called on the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic to revoke Tomaj Salehi's death sentence in a message to them, stating that Tomaj is a 'young man' who 'holds a place in the hearts of every Iranian for supporting his people.' He urged the authorities to heal the wounds of the people instead of reopening them with Tomaj's execution. Many artists and prominent figures have called for the release of this singer by sharing messages, including images or songs of Tomaj Salehi on their social media accounts. Many activists and professional organizations have also condemned this sentence. A number of teachers' union activists in Alborz province issued a statement condemning this sentence, stating: 'The disgraceful file of the government is getting darker every day.' Maziar Seyednejad, a labor activist imprisoned in Evin prison, wrote in a note that has reached VOA, stating that the Islamic Republic has attacked the 'achievements of the Zhina Revolution' in its new wave of repression, targeting all individuals involved in this uprising with full force, and Tomaj is one of those individuals. He continued in his note that the government wants to 'suffocate the future protest movement in its infancy, but this is merely a delusion in the minds of the ruling tyrants, as we will defend the voice of this popular singer with all our might and will not allow the Islamic Republic to implement its vile thoughts.' The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concern on Friday, May 7, regarding the violent suppression of Iranian women by the Islamic Republic under strict hijab laws, while simultaneously calling for the unconditional release of Tomaj Salehi, the imprisoned protest rapper. This body also called for the release of all individuals imprisoned by the Islamic Republic for expressing their opinions, beliefs, and artistic expression.