Reports of Beating of Tomaj Salehi, Protest Rapper, in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

On Wednesday, December 13, the Harana news agency reported that Tomaj Salehi, a protest rapper, has been "indefinitely held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan" for about two weeks since his arrest and has been subjected to beating during this time. The Human Rights Activists News Agency cited an informed source close to Salehi's family, stating that "Tomaj's face has been injured due to the beating he received during his arrest, with one of his eyes swollen and his face bruised." This situation has led to "increased concern among his relatives." Earlier, Salehi's account on the messaging platform X warned on December 8 about what it called "the dangerous game of the judiciary and intelligence agents with Tomaj Salehi's life," stating that "Tomaj Salehi's life is in danger." The account highlighted Salehi's "baseless arrest" and warned of the life-threatening risks of keeping him with "criminals and sometimes dangerous offenders" in the reception section of Dastgerd Prison. Tomaj Salehi was arrested on December 9 in Babol by government agents, accompanied by "beating," and was subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison. Following this, Masoud Setayesh, the spokesperson for the judiciary, announced that a temporary detention order had been issued for him, stating that Salehi had "said some points" after his release in one of the northern province's counties and was "summoned and arrested" based on a "mandate" from the relevant prosecutor's office. According to this judiciary official, the status of the previous case against the protest rapper has also been intensified. Earlier, the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, accused Salehi of publishing "some false and undocumented statements" on social media and arrested him on charges of spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion. In response, Amir Reisiian, Salehi's lawyer, denied the judiciary's claims on X, stating that a complaint against the Isfahan Intelligence Department as the case's authority has been registered and is being reviewed in Branch 14 of the Government Employees Court, asserting that "Tomaj did not say anything false." In part of his first video message after his release, Salehi stated, "I was tortured a lot, but I neither confessed nor collaborated. We will build a very good and cool Iran." Salehi was arrested in early November last year during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police. In July of this year, he was sentenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan to six years and three months in prison, a travel ban, prohibition from producing and performing music, and two years of mandatory attendance in behavior management and skill training courses. This protest rapper was released from Dastgerd Prison on November 18 after posting bail but was arrested again on December 9. Tanaz Kolahchian stated that the judiciary and security apparatus of the Islamic Republic have "erased the issue" in Tomaj Salehi's case, asserting that he did not spread falsehoods; what he said was a narrative and not a crime. The judiciary, instead of investigating the complaint regarding "torture," has "imposed" new charges on Tomaj Salehi. Salehi's transfer to Dastgerd Prison has been noted, with Reisiian stating that no security measures have been issued in the new case.