Tomaj Salehi Emphasizes the 'Illegality' of the Court: Trial is 'at the Request of Intelligence Agencies'

The hearing regarding the charges against Tomaj Salehi, the protesting singer, related to his 2022 case, was held on Thursday, April 30, in the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, with the addition of two charges of 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion.' Tomaj Salehi rejected the charges and deemed the court 'illegal,' stating that his trial was 'not based on law, but at the request of intelligence agencies.' Mostafa Neyli, a lawyer and one of Tomaj Salehi's attorneys, announced this news on the social media platform X, stating that the first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan had issued a ruling in this case 'last summer,' but 'after an appeal to the Supreme Court,' the ruling was 'overturned' and the case was 'returned to the primary court for reconsideration.' Neyli added that 'in this session, based on the judges' opinions, two charges of conspiracy and collusion and complicity in rebellion were also added to the previous charges.' According to a message from Tomaj Salehi published by an admin on the X account of this political prisoner, he emphasized on Thursday, April 30, that 'the baseless and unfounded charges against me and my detention since November 9, 2023, and the continuation of this illegal detention confirm that my arrest and trial are not based on law but at the request of intelligence agencies.' Mostafa Neyli also stated that in this court session, 'after a brief defense by Tomaj,' he and Amir Reisi, another lawyer for the imprisoned artist, defended their client. Neyli also emphasized that 'given the final defense was taken, we must wait for the judges' decision and the announcement of the ruling.' Hours earlier, Ye Wan Ri, a member of the German Parliament who has taken on the political sponsorship of Tomaj Salehi, called for the release of this protesting rapper, stating, 'Today is Tomaj's court. I remember him and demand his freedom. I will not tire of bringing attention to the crimes of the Iranian regime. I will not forget how they treat innocent political prisoners. The regime does not even respect the most basic human rights. I will continue to raise international awareness about Tomaj and the injustice done to him. My support will not end until Tomaj is free.' Amir Reisi, another lawyer for Tomaj Salehi, had previously stated about the latest status of his client's case: 'Tomaj Salehi's case from 2022 went to the Supreme Court. This judicial authority overturned the ruling of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan and considered other charges against Mr. Salehi to be subject to amnesty, also emphasizing that the penalties imposed on Tomaj Salehi were more than the legal penalties.' According to Amir Reisi, the Supreme Court also emphasized that two of Tomaj Salehi's charges should be removed and referred the case back to the Islamic Revolutionary Court, but this branch handling the case returned it to the Isfahan Prosecutor's Office to increase the charges. This lawyer added that ultimately, the prosecutor's office, in addition to repeating all previous charges against Tomaj Salehi in the 2022 case, even included charges for which he had been acquitted, adding two new charges of 'complicity in rebellion' and 'conspiracy and collusion with intent to harm national security' to this protesting rapper's case. After Tomaj Salehi supported the recent nationwide protests, a total of three legal cases have been formed against him. One of these cases is from 2022, and two other cases were formed after the temporary release of this young rapper. Tomaj Salehi, shortly after his temporary release on bail, was re-arrested on December 9 last year on charges of 'spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion' and transferred to the Dastgerd prison in Isfahan. He was recently sentenced to one year in prison for publishing one of his videos against judicial agents on social media. Another court is underway regarding charges of 'spreading falsehoods through computer systems' and 'inciting violent acts through computer systems' against this protesting rapper. Mr. Salehi, who is currently in Dastgerd prison in Isfahan, commemorated '552 days of glorious resistance of the Women, Life, Freedom Revolution' in a New Year message. In a message from Tomaj Salehi published on March 19 on his X account by an admin, he stated: 'I feel the warmth of the hands that planted saplings in my memory and the hands that kept my memory alive on the walls of the city on my chest; the voices of those who congratulated me on Yalda night and my birthday or shouted for my freedom still polish my soul every day.' He also emphasized: 'I am not alone here, because you did not leave me alone; I am here with you, remembering the happier days than today and hoping for brighter futures than all our years, celebrating the New Year with a smile of pride and honor and continuing to resist alongside you.' Tomaj Salehi concluded his message with: 'Happy Nowruz to you, long live the 552 days of glorious resistance of the Women, Life, Freedom Revolution.' Nasir Mashkouri, a writer and music critic, told Voice of America about Tomaj Salehi: 'Before being a hip-hop artist, he is a civil activist and a revolutionary, and he was active in the scene even before the Women, Life, Freedom movement took a revolutionary shape.' Mr. Mashkouri adds: 'One or two years before the nationwide protests, Tomaj expressed issues in his works that we did not yet see publicly in society, meaning expressing protest critiques in revolutionary form, boldly and without any censorship in his works. Tomaj's audacity was such that even some hip-hop artists laughed at him, saying he was government-affiliated or trying to become prominent.' This music critic states: 'Tomaj Salehi subsequently showed that he is well aware of his role in this path, knows what he is doing, and aligned with the people.' According to Nasir Mashkouri, 'This young rapper initially showed through his works what was happening beneath the surface of society, and when protests and discontent surged, he accompanied the Women, Life, Freedom movement and became, in a way, the voice of this movement.' Mr. Mashkouri emphasizes that Tomaj Salehi's revolutionary performance has made him significant, not the artistic part of his works within the framework of rap music, and for this reason, many people listened to his songs and he became very prominent. This music critic states: 'Given that Tomaj did not back down at all, participated in protests, and courageously spoke out against the regime inside the country and called for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, he became a significant threat to the regime and that is why he was arrested.'