Nasrin Sotoudeh Calls for Immediate Release of Tomaj Salehi and All Political Prisoners

On the anniversary of the arrest of Tomaj Salehi, a jailed rapper, Nasrin Sotoudeh has called for the immediate release of this artist and all political prisoners. In a statement published on Tuesday on the Telegram channel of the "Human Rights Defenders Center" in Iran, Sotoudeh referred to Iran as a country where life is "imprisoned." This human rights lawyer described political prisoners as "various forms of our lives" and emphasized, "Free the artists, free Tomaj Salehi, today!" Tomaj Salehi, a protesting rapper, was arrested on November 8, 2022, after supporting protesters who took to the streets following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the 'Guidance Patrol.' During this time, multiple reports of his "torture" during detention have been published by human rights organizations. He was previously sentenced to six years and three months in prison in a "non-public" trial on charges including "corruption on earth," "propaganda against the regime," and "inciting people to murder and chaos." On September 20 of this year, Tomaj Salehi's account on X reported on the injuries resulting from the "brutal tortures" this imprisoned singer has faced, stating that "the physical injuries inflicted on Tomaj Salehi remain untreated and without medical attention." Sotoudeh also emphasized in her message the "imprisonment" of art and artists, lawyering and lawyers, news and journalists, knowledge and scientists in Iran. This human rights lawyer wrote: "This is Iran. Art is imprisoned. Artists are imprisoned. Tomaj is in prison because he is an artist. Lawyering is imprisoned, and thus lawyers are imprisoned. News is imprisoned, and thus journalists are imprisoned. Knowledge is imprisoned, and our environmental doctors and scientists are imprisoned. In a word, life is imprisoned." On Sunday, November 7, Sotoudeh was arrested during the funeral of Armita Garavand, a 16-year-old girl whose death was announced a few days earlier, along with several other civil activists. According to Reza Khandan, the husband of this human rights activist, she was severely "beaten" during her arrest and spent the first two days of her detention on a "hunger and medication strike." Parastoo Fatemi: Tomaj Salehi is subjected to additional torture in prison due to deprivation of treatment. Concerns have risen following the denial of the lawyer's statements and Tomaj Salehi's revelations about his conditions in prison. Tomaj Salehi, the imprisoned singer, won the award from the Organization for Defending Freedom of Expression. Reports about the "brutal tortures" of Tomaj Salehi and his need for "immediate" medical attention.