Statement from 14 Political Prisoners Condemning the Death Sentence for Tomaj Salehi: Today's Silence Means Tomorrow's Sentence for Us

Fourteen political prisoners, on May 7, issued a statement from Evin Prison condemning the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi as shameless, revealing once again the inhuman nature and the depth of corruption of this regime through a disgraceful process in its kangaroo courts. In their statement, these political prisoners said that the 'Islamic government,' which is under the illusion of having power abroad, has turned the streets into a battlefield against the freedom-seeking women of Iran, and reacts with utmost ruthlessness even to the most civil forms of struggle and artistic expression in its quest for revenge against protesters and dissenters. The death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, the issuance of inhumane sentences against protesters and dissenters, and long imprisonments and exiles are described as 'ropes ready for hanging,' indicating that the regime aims to warn society that any form of protest, even non-violent and civil, will be met with the fist of tyranny. Golrokh Iraei, Hasti Amiri, Rasoul Badaghi, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Amir Salar Davoodi, Vida Rabani, Hossein Razag, Reza Shahabi, Narges Mohammadi, Abdollah Momeni, Mohammad Najafi, Sedigheh Voseqi, Faezah Hashemi, and Maryam Yahyavi concluded by stating, 'The message of the rulers regarding Tomaj's sentence has reached us! Beware that the price of our silence today is the sentence for each of us tomorrow, as they will silence every voice. Unbeknownst to them, the end of this absolute corruption will come with the infinite power of the people's resistance in these occupied streets.' The issuance of the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, a protesting singer, has sparked a wave of domestic and international protests. Many artists and public figures have called for the release of this young singer by sharing visual, auditory messages, or various other materials, including images or songs of Tomaj Salehi on their social media accounts. Many activists and professional organizations have condemned this sentence. Teacher unions, in a statement condemning this ruling, wrote that the regime's disgraceful record grows darker every day. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a report published on Friday, May 7, expressed concern over the violent repression of Iranian women by the Islamic Republic under strict compulsory hijab laws, while simultaneously calling for the unconditional release of Tomaj Salehi, the imprisoned protesting rapper. This commissioner also called for the release of all individuals imprisoned by the Islamic Republic for expressing their opinions, beliefs, and artistic expression. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged the Islamic Republic to halt the implementation of the death penalty. The cries of Milad Saidiangoo's mother after hearing the news of Tomaj Salehi's death sentence, a gathering of a group of Iranians in support of Tomaj Salehi and Reza Rasayi in Hamburg, protest graffiti in support of Tomaj Salehi in Tabriz reading 'Death to Khamenei,' the impact of Tomaj Salehi's resonant voice on the people and society of Iran from the perspective of Damoon Mohammadi, Molavi Abdulhamid's reaction to Tomaj Salehi's death sentence: 'Do not kill people for speaking,' the High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized the 'repression' of women in Iran and called for the release of Tomaj Salehi, reactions from activists and teacher organizations to Tomaj Salehi's death sentence: 'The regime's disgraceful record grows darker every day,' the Tehran prosecutor's indictment against a journalist for publishing a video of the people's reaction to Tomaj Salehi's death sentence, a strong wave of support for Tomaj Salehi and condemnation of the Islamic Republic; Mahsa Amini's mother: 'Let Tomaj breathe.'