Reactions of Activists and Teachers' Organizations to the Death Sentence of Tomaj Salehi: The Government's Infamous Record Grows Darker Every Day

Two days after the death sentence was issued for Tomaj Salehi, a protesting singer in Iran, domestic and international reactions to this ruling continue. In the latest criticisms, a group of activists and teachers' organizations condemned this ruling. In one statement, it was emphasized that the government's infamous record grows darker every day. The Fars Teachers' Association, on Friday, May 7, condemned the death sentence against Tomaj Salehi, stating: "It is a terrifying time. The strangeness of the era is evident when the judiciary does not see the hands of embezzlers and thieves of public funds but smells the mouths of artists to ensure they have not said 'I love you.'" This teachers' organization pointed out that "the death sentence for the beloved and popular artist Tomaj Salehi was issued by the judiciary while land grabbers and major economic offenders in the judicial system are not only acquitted but are not even detained or prosecuted for a single day." The Fars Teachers' Association wrote: "Although this is not the first time society has witnessed such unjust rulings from the judiciary, as everyone knows, social activists including teachers and workers have also been subjected to such injustices; however, the ominous gift of such a court is nothing but the intensification of an atmosphere of terror and a false calm before a massive social storm." This teachers' organization emphasized: "In an environment where the path for criticism and legal activism is blocked and society witnesses increasing discrimination, injustice, and repeated violations of the law, there is a fear that the repressed anger of the people will ignite, leading to much more radical movements in society in the near future." The teachers' association referred to recent events, particularly the protests of 2022, and added that these events "have made it clear to everyone that such an outcome is inevitable and there is no escape from it." In the conclusion of their statement, the Fars Teachers' Association strongly condemned the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, demanding his immediate and unconditional release and the annulment of this unjust ruling, stating: "Issuing such disgraceful rulings by the judiciary results in nothing but the community's distrust of the judicial system." The Harsin Cultural Association also described Tomaj Salehi's death sentence as "among the murders of art and life" and condemned it. This teachers' organization emphasized that "art does not die with torture, imprisonment, and execution, as it is the essence of existence" and added: "The death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, along with the declaration of war against the people under the title 'Light Plan,' is a sign of the demise of a power that sees its survival in violence and killing." Additionally, a group of active cultural and civil educators in Alborz province issued a statement condemning the "inhumane ruling against Tomaj Salehi, son of the land of Iran," emphasizing that "historically, the process of suppressing and intimidating critics has never succeeded anywhere in the world in silencing activism and criticism, and ultimately, it is social activists and critics who prevail in the field of justice." The signatories of the statement addressed the government, stating: "Be aware that you cannot crucify the voices of Tomajs. Rest assured, fresh voices sitting in their nests will be heard. Yes, this is the voice that remains and will never be silenced." They declared that "the government darkens its infamous record every day, reaching a point where it cannot suppress the anger of the people and the families seeking justice with any tricks." In the letter, these activists stated that "Tomaj must be condemned because he has not embezzled or stolen; he has only cried out the pain and suffering of his compatriots." The letter emphasized that incompetent rulers should know that when they cannot respond to all the false promises and the despair of the youth and have no thought other than execution, they should expect severe consequences for their mistakes. Ismail Abdi, a cultural activists, wrote on his social media account that Tomaj Salehi "manifested the power to create social protest movements and the moral and human virtue of art in our time." According to this activist, Tomaj Salehi "screamed the pain and suffering of the people from teachers, workers, nurses, and the marginalized Baluch, Kurdish, Turk, Fars, Arab, and all ethnicities in his works." Aziz Qasemzadeh, another teachers' activist, also wrote on his Telegram account that the issuance of the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi not only lacks the slightest reading with legal standards but also the contradiction of this ruling by the Revolutionary Court with a previous ruling of the Supreme Court and the designation of the annulment of the death sentence by the Revolutionary Court as 'advisory' is evidence of the collapse of all legal standards in issuing this ruling. This activist emphasized that at a time when, since the issuance of this ruling, a widespread wave of various segments of society and diverse and even conflicting tendencies have united in defense of Tomaj Salehi and protest against his death sentence, unfortunately, no voice has been heard from the music community and its custodians. This silence will undoubtedly carry the judgment of history with it. The Telegram channel 'Charter of Freedom, Welfare, Equality' also assessed the issuance of Tomaj Salehi's death sentence not as 'for the intimidation and suppression' of the Iranian people, stating: 'The court issuing this ruling also knows that its ruling is so baseless that it cannot even be executed within the framework of the existing judicial procedures of the Islamic Republic.' Previously, Mojgan Eftekhar, Mahsa Amini's mother, wrote in an Instagram story: 'Do not let the heart of Tomaj's mother become like mine; let Tomaj breathe so that his mother does not lose her breath.' Abolfazl Ghadiani, an opponent of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, also noted the issuance of the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, writing: 'This crisis-inducing action is, on the one hand, a result of desperation and fear and, on the other hand, blind hatred and revenge from Ali Khamenei.' Bahman Ghobadi, a well-known filmmaker, also published a post on Instagram calling for awareness about the situation of Tomaj Salehi and other imprisoned protesters, stating that the Islamic Republic is on the brink of collapse and urging the Iranian people to unite to overthrow this government and rise again. Tomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper opposed to the Islamic Republic, was arrested and imprisoned in early November 2022 in connection with nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. He was released on bail a year later but was arrested again a few days later and sent to prison in Isfahan. On April 30, 2023, he was tried in the first branch of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on charges of 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion' and his death sentence was communicated to his lawyers on May 5.