Tomaj Salehi Awarded 'Heretic' Prize by Global Music Awards

Tomaj Salehi, an imprisoned Iranian rapper, received the 'Heretic' award from the Global Music Awards. He was recently sentenced to six years and three months in prison after months of detention, receiving this award for his song 'Faal' in the protest music category. The organization stated on its website: 'Tomaj Salehi's courage and determination inspire us all. It is an honor to award this incredible individual, and we hope he is freed from this unjust imprisonment.' The Global Music Awards noted that in this song, Salehi criticized the Iranian government with lyrics such as '44 years of your government is a year of failure / That day you will attack each other.' 'Faal' was the last song released by this protest rapper before being arrested by Iranian security forces in October 2022. The organization pointed out that Tomaj Salehi was one of the prominent figures in the protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran. The death of this young girl while in custody of the morality police sparked widespread protests across various parts of Iran. The statement further mentioned that Salehi contributed not only to participating in protests but also to organizing, calling for demonstrations, and disseminating messages. For these reasons, and also due to the themes in his songs, he was arrested on various charges against the government, including 'corruption on earth,' which carries the death penalty, 'propaganda activities,' 'collaboration with hostile governments,' and 'forming illegal groups with the people' with the intent to create insecurity. Fortunately, the organization stated that Tomaj Salehi was acquitted of 'corruption on earth' and related charges, so he is no longer facing the death penalty and has been transferred from solitary confinement to a general prison. The statement also noted that various reports of Tomaj Salehi being beaten and tortured during his detention exist, and it is said that he has suffered from long periods of unconsciousness and fractures in his hands, feet, and face as a result. The organization claims that assessing the extent of Tomaj Salehi's injuries and damages is difficult because this Iranian rapper is still deprived of medical care and visits from his family. This is not the first time Tomaj Salehi has been arrested. He was previously detained in September 2021 for criticizing the government in his works published online, accused of 'propaganda against the regime' and 'insulting the leadership.' After his arrest, he was sentenced to six months in prison and fined. His recent arrest occurred just three months after the end of his previous sentence. During the recent nationwide protests in Iran, hundreds were killed and injured, and the government arrested about twenty thousand people. According to a UN expert, at least seven people were executed after 'arbitrary, short, and fabricated trials.' In recent months, significant efforts have been made to support Tomaj Salehi, with many cultural and artistic figures, politicians, and human rights organizations calling for the release of this Iranian rapper. 'Tarantist,' led by Arash Rahbari, is one of the Iranian groups that recently performed Salehi's song 'Meydoon Jangeh' in a different style in support of him. The music video for this piece received a lot of reactions on social media and was well received by Iranian users. Arash Rahbari commented on Salehi's arrest and conviction to Voice of America, saying: 'The arrest, massacre, and genocide of protesters will yield no results for this corrupt regime; rather, it will make the people more determined and powerful.' According to Rahbari, artists do not need permission from any individual, institution, or organization and must stand with the people, 'because the audience of the artist is the people, and they draw motivation, love, and energy from them; thus, it is the human and honorable duty of artists to be the voice of the people and reflect the realities of their society.' The Global Music Awards is a recognized artistic organization that describes protest music as songs with lyrics that challenge 'injustice, discrimination, environmental destruction, or economic inequality.' The organization emphasizes the importance of such works, stating that 'this music raises awareness of injustice and brings people together to correct mistakes and change public policy.' The headquarters of the Global Music Awards is in California, and they have the support of several prominent figures in the music industry across various sectors. Winners of the Global Music Awards receive support from this organization for connecting with experts, consulting, promoting, and supporting their works. The awards are given in three different categories with the aim of 'appreciating specific artists who make the world a better place with their music.' Other winners of the Heretic Award for protest music include Ray Zaragoza, Missy Higgins, Alinda Lee Segra, Harry, and Posi Wright. The U.S. State Department has called for the immediate release of 'all political prisoners' in Iran.