Iqbal Iqbali, Tomaaj Salehi's uncle, confirmed in an interview with VOA on Wednesday, April 24, that a death sentence has been issued for this protesting artist. The newspaper Shargh, published in Tehran, previously reported on Wednesday, citing Tomaaj Salehi's lawyer, that the court has sentenced this imprisoned artist to death based on the charge of 'corruption on earth.' Amir Reisiyaan, one of Tomaaj Salehi's lawyers, told Shargh that the preliminary court considered the Supreme Court's ruling to be 'advisory' and 'did not implement it.' According to Reisiyaan, 'Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, in an unprecedented move, did not implement the Supreme Court's ruling regarding Tomaaj Salehi's 2022 case and, by calling this ruling 'advisory' and emphasizing the independence of the preliminary court, sentenced Tomaaj Salehi to the maximum penalty, which is death, for the charge of corruption on earth.' Mustafa Nili, another lawyer for Tomaaj Salehi, also announced that 'today (Wednesday) Tomaaj Salehi's verdict was communicated,' writing on the social media platform X: 'Unfortunately, a death sentence has been issued for him by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan.' He stated that 'from the lawyers' perspective, this ruling contains evident legal contradictions,' and that Salehi's lawyers 'will file an appeal within the legal timeframe.' On Tuesday, Tomaaj Salehi's account, managed by an admin, published a message from him stating that his verdict had been communicated, but he refrained from announcing it due to the potential psychological impact on his young supporters. Tomaaj Salehi, a protest rap singer, is currently in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The hearing for Tomaaj Salehi's charges related to his 2022 case was held on Thursday, April 19, in Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, with two additional charges of 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion' added. Tomaaj Salehi has rejected the charges against him and deemed this court 'illegal,' stating that his trial was conducted 'not according to the law, but at the request of intelligence agencies.'
Tomaaj Salehi's Uncle to VOA: Death Sentence Issued for Tomaaj
Tomaaj Salehi, a protest rap artist, has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan on charges of 'corruption on earth.' His lawyers claim the ruling is legally contradictory and plan to appeal. This case highlights the Iranian regime's crackdown on dissent and the risks faced by artists and activists.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Tomaaj Salehi, a protest rap artist, has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan on charges of 'corruption on earth.' His lawyers plan to appeal the decision, citing legal contradictions.
- The death sentence was issued by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan.
- Salehi's lawyers argue that the court ignored a Supreme Court ruling and plan to appeal.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of using severe legal measures against those who oppose the regime, particularly during periods of heightened political unrest.
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Translation confidence: 85%