Reports of 'Brutal Torture' of Tomaj Salehi and His Need for 'Immediate' Medical Attention

Tomaj Salehi's account on X (formerly Twitter) reported on the injuries resulting from the 'brutal torture' of this imprisoned rapper and called for his immediate treatment. The message criticized the '325 days since the violent attack, arrest accompanied by severe beatings, long interrogations under brutal torture, and repeated loss of consciousness due to torture,' emphasizing that the physical injuries inflicted on Tomaj Salehi remain untreated and without medical attention. It was stated in Tomaj Salehi's account that 'necessary actions for medical leave and transferring Tomaj to the hospital for his medical follow-up must be taken as soon as possible, and there should be no delays based on false pretexts in this critical and necessary matter.' The account further detailed the consequences of his 'torture,' including bleeding and severe vision loss, fractures of the shin and fingers, rib fractures, severe head swelling, and being in a state of unconsciousness. The report also criticized the manner of holding the 'so-called trial' and the 'unjust' imprisonment of this dissenting singer, alongside the imposition of 'severe pressures and controls without having basic rights.' Tomaj Salehi was arrested last November after supporting protesters and was sentenced to six years and three months in prison in a closed trial on charges such as 'corruption on earth,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'inciting people to murder and unrest.' Shabnam Khosravi, Tomaj Salehi's cousin, recently emphasized the need for medical attention for this imprisoned protester in an interview with Voice of America. The 'Global Music Awards' recognized him as a winner in the protest music category for his song 'Fal' in August of this year. Following the nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in custody of the morality police, several protesting artists and singers were summoned or arrested, including Mehdi Yarahee, Saman Yasin (Seydi), and Tomaj Salehi. Mohammad Mehdi Arefi, known as Matin Do-Hanjereh, was also released on bail after a few days of detention. The spokesperson for Amnesty International USA called for the release of Tomaj Salehi and other political prisoners. Iqbal Iqbali, Tomaj Salehi's uncle, stated that the Islamic Republic has no connection to Iran and the Iranian people. The government's pressure on artists continues; Leila Naqdi-Pari was arrested and transferred to an unknown location. On the anniversary of Mahsa's death, the American PEN Association urged human rights experts to investigate the repression of writers and artists in Iran.