Tomaj Salehi, the protesting singer, has been released from prison

Mizan News Agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has reported the release of Tomaj Salehi, a protesting singer. This news agency announced on the evening of Monday, December 2, citing the public relations office of the General Court of Isfahan Province, that Mr. Salehi, who had been sentenced to one year in prison for the crime of propaganda against the regime, has been released after serving his sentence. Last week, Mustafa Nili, Tomaj Salehi's lawyer, reported that the court had issued a suspension of prosecution, thereby closing the case related to the protests of 2022 against this imprisoned singer. However, he emphasized that his client is still in prison for the case of 'propaganda activities against the regime' and expressed hope that considering the time Mr. Salehi has spent in detention, the end of his imprisonment would soon be announced. Tomaj Salehi was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in May of this year for charges related to the 2022 protests. The announcement of the death sentence for this protesting singer sparked a widespread global outcry against this ruling, with human rights organizations and Western governments calling for the cancellation of the sentence and the release of Tomaj Salehi. After some time, the Iranian Supreme Court overturned this sentence and sent the case to Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, and ultimately this case was closed. Tomaj Salehi, a rapper, was released on bail on November 18, 2023, 'after enduring 252 days of solitary confinement and a total of one year and 21 days in prison,' but was re-arrested 12 days later after a video was released in which he described being tortured in prison, and he was detained with 'beating.' He was actively involved in the widespread protests of 2022 that began with the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini while in the custody of the morality police, supporting all protesters, detainees, and political activists, which led to a new case being opened against him. Due to his activities that year, he became one of the symbols of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. This October, the 'Václav Havel' Foundation awarded its 2024 Human Rights Prize to his representative.