Human Rights Foundation Calls for 'Immediate and Unconditional Release' of Tomaj Salehi

The Human Rights Foundation has called for the 'immediate and unconditional release' of Tomaj Salehi, a imprisoned protest rapper in Iran. This non-governmental organization, active in supporting democracy and human rights worldwide, described Salehi as an artist who has used his voice to 'fight for human rights' and support the 'Mahsa Amini movement.' The foundation added on its social media account that Salehi is 'paying the price for expressing the truth.' In a message published by this international organization, Claudia Bent, a director at the Human Rights Foundation, and Nazanin Boniadi, an actress and human rights activist, referred to Salehi as a dissident rapper who was arrested after releasing the song 'Faal' in support of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protesters in 2022. In a document titled 'The Courage of Dissent, The Case of Tomaj Salehi,' Nazanin Boniadi emphasizes that the protests of the Iranian people have always faced repression from the Islamic Republic, with protesters subjected to 'beatings and torture,' 'rape and detention,' experiencing 'enforced disappearances,' and facing execution. Tomaj Salehi was arrested on October 30, 2022, during the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. He was released on bail a year later but was re-arrested just days later on December 3, 2023. The First Branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan tried this protest singer on April 18, 2023, on charges of 'assembly and collusion, and complicity in rebellion,' sentencing him to death. This sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Salehi's lawyer recently announced that despite the acquittal of this protest artist from the charge of 'corruption on earth' and the issuance of a ban on prosecution for other charges, he remains in prison due to a new case being formed against him. According to Amir Raeisian, the formation of a new case regarding one of Salehi's songs and the charges of 'insulting the sacred' and 'calling for chaos and riots' against this government critic have led to the continuation of his imprisonment. Human rights organizations and activists have consistently criticized the repression of freedom of expression by the Islamic Republic. The 'Václav Havel' Center in New York awarded its annual 'Disturbing the Peace' award jointly to Tomaj Salehi, the imprisoned protest rapper in Iran, and Arundhati Roy, an Indian writer, on Friday, August 16. This award is given to honor brave writers at risk who are persecuted for their beliefs and views. The documentary 'A Gem in the Desert' was screened; Mary Apick dedicated the first showing of the film to Tomaj Salehi and Shervin Hajipour. Tomaj Salehi was acquitted of the charge of corruption. Tomaj Salehi was introduced as one of the winners of the annual award from the 'Václav Havel' Center. Tomaj Salehi's account states that they want him to remain in prison with 'false accusations' and 'case fabrication.'