Protest Statements Against the Death Sentence for Tomaj: He is the 'Voice of the Revolution' and the 'Innovator of the Silent Melody' of Iranians

In the latest instances of support for Tomaj Salehi, the at-risk rapper facing execution, hundreds of artists in the music field and the Iranian Pensioners' Council issued separate statements protesting the death sentence for this artist. A number of Iranian musicians emphasized in a statement supporting Tomaj Salehi and reacting to the issuance of the death sentence for this protest rapper that 'the world is watching' and history will remember that 'once in this land, such an unfair sentence was issued for the accusation of armed protest.' In this statement, signed by about 300 musicians, it was emphasized that 'art is free from any chains,' and following the issuance of the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi 'on baseless charges,' 'the music community in Iran has plunged into a state of shock and horror.' These artists described Tomaj Salehi as 'the innovator of the silent melody in the throat and the rightful demands of a generation of Iranians' who 'are peacefully striving for a normal life in their homeland.' The signatories of this statement also called for the freedom of 'imprisoned artists' and stated: 'Free musicians Tomaj Salehi, Saman Yasin, Sheida Hamdani, Aziz Qasemi, and all peaceful protesters and let these worried people see some peace.' They added: 'We, the music community, demand the immediate cancellation of the unjust death sentence and the unconditional freedom of this artist and other imprisoned artists.' Signatures from artists including Fardin Khalatbari, Keyvan Saket, Hana, Nima, Siavash, and Ardavan Kamkar, Arash Shafaei, and Hamid Gholamali are seen at the bottom of this statement. The Iranian Pensioners' Council also stated in a statement: 'In the midst of the planned mobilization in the streets and the admirable resistance of women in undermining the failed policy of mandatory hijab, suddenly the wave arising from the news of Tomaj Salehi's execution injected new blood into the veins of the protesting community.' This statement emphasized that 'if Mahsa became the code name for woman, life, freedom, Tomaj has become the continuation of the code name for this revolution.' According to this statement published on the Telegram channel of the Iranian Pensioners' Council, 'this time not only in the streets but from the hearts of the people, from the walls and doors of homes, and from all media, the barrage of media news supporting Tomaj Salehi has turned into a material force that has already put the government in a defensive position, and the intensity of street repression with the noise of propaganda and mobilization of government elements against women could not diminish the heated and aggressive public opinion against this ruling.' The Iranian Pensioners' Council described Tomaj Salehi as 'the voice of the revolution' and stated: 'The revolution has also made him a scene of struggle against the government with its strong support.' According to this statement, 'the society has raised Tomaj high with strong goals and motivations for changing the existing conditions because it knows that hitting Tomaj is hitting society and pushing it back.' This statement added: 'The outcome of the continued demands of social movements, including workers, teachers, retirees, and the intensification of protests from various sectors of society, has concentrated at this critical moment in unified support for Tomaj. The government has been warned that this society cannot be tested while waiting for a spark. With the first tremor, the fire under the ashes will flare up.' The Iranian Pensioners' Council emphasized that 'the cessation and removal of the death penalty from laws is more urgent than ever' and 'the public will, both inside and outside, is advancing practical solidarity to save the lives of Tomaj and other prisoners under this heinous and inhumane ruling, including Reza Rasayi, Mojahid Korkor, Abbas Daris, Habib Daris, and dozens of others.' Previously, 10 political prisoners held in Qazalhasar prison described the issuance of the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi as 'the tip of the iceberg of gross human rights violations' and two of them warned in an audio file received by Voice of America about the danger of execution for 'Reza Rasayi, Adel Khoshkar, Habib Daris, Mojahid Korkor, Mansour Dahmarde, Abbas Daris, and Milad Azmoon.'