Tomaj Salehi Introduced as One of the Winners of the Annual Václav Havel Award

The Václav Havel Center in New York awarded its annual prize titled "Disrupting the Peace" jointly to Tomaj Salehi, a protesting rapper imprisoned in Iran, and Arundhati Roy, an Indian author, on Friday, August 16. This award is given to honor courageous writers who are at risk and are persecuted due to their beliefs and views. In a statement announcing this year's winners, the center praised the significant achievements of Tomaj Salehi and Arundhati Roy in this field. Salil Tripathi, a member of the jury, stated: "The world is in a situation where governments continue to suppress dissenting voices. However, these voices do not go silent. These writers and artists possess the same integrity, courage, and will that Václav Havel demonstrated." He further added: "Tomaj Salehi in Iran uses words and music with energy and passion to challenge the religious tyranny in Iran that suppresses women's rights. He was sentenced to death, although the Supreme Court overturned this ruling, but Tomaj remains imprisoned." In another part of this statement, Salil Tripathi referred to Arundhati Roy's efforts in India to support the marginalized, the deprived, and the poor, stating that she strives for justice, equality, comfort, welfare, and peace, and is deserving of recognition. The nominees for this annual award are introduced by internationally recognized organizations in the fields of literature and human rights. The Václav Havel Award committee sends a shortlist of selected nominees to the jury, and a winner is chosen. Bill Shipsey, the chair of the award committee, expressed gratitude to the jury members, stating that Tomaj Salehi and Arundhati Roy are "extraordinary" examples of the spirit of Václav Havel, and he proudly places them among the members of the human rights and free speech advocacy community. Václav Havel was a former president of the Czech Republic, a poet, a playwright, a government opponent, a politician, and a former chair of the Human Rights Foundation. Source: Václav Havel Center website. Tomaj Salehi's account: They want him to remain in prison with "false accusations" and "fabricated cases." Tomaj Salehi was acquitted of the charge of "corruption on earth" but is not released. Tomaj Salehi was acquitted of the "corruption" charge. Vafa Ahmadpour and Daniel Moghaddam, protesting rappers, were sentenced to imprisonment, travel bans, and restrictions on social media activity. Amnesty International once again called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Tomaj Salehi.