Nowruz Message from Tomaj Salehi from Prison: Long Live 552 Days of Glorious Resistance of the Woman, Life, Freedom Revolution

Tomaj Salehi, a protest rap artist currently imprisoned in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, celebrated the New Year in a Nowruz message, honoring "552 days of glorious resistance of the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution." In his message, published on Tuesday, March 19, on his X account by an admin, he stated: "I feel the warmth of the hands that planted trees in my memory and the hands that kept my memory alive on the walls of the city. The voices of those who congratulated me on Yalda night and my birthday, or shouted for my freedom, still polish my soul every day." He also emphasized: "I am not alone here, because you did not leave me alone. I celebrate the New Year with a smile of pride and honor, remembering happier days than today and hoping for brighter futures than all our years, and I continue to resist alongside you." At the end of his message, Tomaj Salehi said: "Happy Nowruz, long live 552 days of glorious resistance of the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution." In recent days, Tomaj Salehi's lawyer announced that the imprisoned artist was acquitted of the charges of "spreading falsehoods and inciting violence" related to a video he released after his temporary release from prison in December of this year. Additionally, Khalid Pirzadeh and Reza Salmandzadeh, two other political prisoners, sent separate messages to Voice of America, congratulating Nowruz and emphasizing the necessity of collective justice-seeking. Furthermore, there were celebrations for Nowruz in the village of Big Qaleh in the Shirvan district, and reports of overcrowding at the Bazargan border terminal ahead of Nowruz 1403. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also congratulated Nowruz, wishing for peace, health, and happiness.