Reaction of Some U.S. Lawmakers to the Death Sentence of Tomaj Salehi: 'This Regime Does Not Represent the People of Iran'

The issuance of a death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, an Iranian protest rapper, has sparked widespread reactions around the world, including in the United States. Several members of the U.S. House of Representatives responded to a question from the Persian section of Voice of America on this matter on Tuesday. Adam Smith, a Democratic representative from Washington, said, 'What the (Iranian) government is doing to its people is devastating. We passed an important sanction against the Islamic Republic two weeks ago.' He added, 'The Islamic Republic is expanding its totalitarian ideology and trying to subjugate, especially against women, and we must stand against this government and all its allies, the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.' Joe Wilson, a Republican representative from South Carolina, also told Voice of America, 'The Tehran regime is a dictatorship that oppresses the people of Iran; we witness this oppression daily.' He noted the difference between the people and the government in Iran, stating, 'We honor the heritage of Iranians and the people of this country, but the regime has shown that it is a dictatorship that rules by the law of the gun.' Cory Mills, a Republican representative from Florida, said, 'This regime has repeatedly committed horrific and barbaric acts against its people. This regime does not represent the people of Iran who seek freedom and life in a democratic country.' Seth Moulton, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts, also told Voice of America, 'We stand with Iranian protesters fighting for their basic human rights, which all humans around the world should enjoy.' He emphasized, 'The Iranian regime is an evil government that has no desire to support its people. This regime is very weak and feels it must execute its critics.'