Sadegh Ghasemi, Rapper, Arrested in Ahvaz

Human rights sources have reported the arrest of Sadegh Ghasemi Zilai, a rapper, in Ahvaz by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, this artist from Izeh was arrested in recent days at the home of a relative in Ahvaz during a "widespread raid" by Ministry of Intelligence agents. As reported by HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, Sadegh Ghasemi Zilai has been transferred to the detention center of the Intelligence Department in Ahvaz after his arrest. According to this report, he has been able to contact his family by phone once so far. No information has been released regarding the charges against this rapper. Following the nationwide protests in Iran that erupted after the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police in 2022, several artists supporting the protesters, such as Mehdi Yarahee, Tomaj Salehi, and Saman Yasin (Seydi), have been arrested and imprisoned. Reports indicate that Tomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin, who have spent over a year in prison, have been subjected to torture during their detention and, despite multiple physical and psychological injuries, have been denied access to medical services. Saman Yasin, a rapper arrested in October 2022, has recently suffered seizures and fainting in addition to having blood in his urine, and is currently on a hunger strike in protest of his uncertainty. Tomaj Salehi, a rapper supporting the protesters, was arrested on November 8, 2022, and after a trial in a "non-public" court, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges such as "corruption on earth," "propaganda against the regime," and "inciting people to murder and unrest." Javid Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, emphasized in his recent report that the situation of human rights violations in Iran will not change until fundamental freedoms are guaranteed by law. Previously, Michelle Taylor, the US Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, criticized the "blatant disregard of the Iranian regime for human rights and freedom of expression." Nasrin Sotoudeh called for the immediate release of Tomaj Salehi and all political prisoners. The death of Hossein Zaman, a critic of the Iranian government, drew reactions from users: "He died of grief." Human rights sources reported that the condition of Saman Yasin is "critical"; prison officials are refusing to send him to medical facilities. Mehdi Yarahee has been released on bail.