Tomaj Salehi's Phone Calls Cut Off in Dastgerd Prison and Warning About New 'Case Fabrication'

The page attributed to Tomaj Salehi has described the cutting off of this imprisoned protester's phone calls since Thursday, July 20, as an instance of 'white torture' and a 'gross violation of human rights,' calling for an 'immediate cessation' of this action. These statements were posted on Tomaj Salehi's page on the social media platform 'X' on Saturday, July 23. The page also expressed concern on Friday, July 22, about the 'possibility of a show trial and immediate closed-door proceedings' against Tomaj Salehi. The published note referenced a 'meeting with judicial agents in Dastgerd prison' in Isfahan, suggesting that the judiciary of Isfahan province is 'planning to hold an immediate show trial behind closed doors against Tomaj in order to create a pretext for the continued temporary detention and imprisonment of him, which lacked legal basis after the annulment of previous charges against him.' The page recently warned about the formation of 'two new cases with fabricated charges' against this imprisoned singer. Yi Wan Ri, Tomaj Salehi's political representative, regarded the new accusations against this protesting singer as a sign of the 'Iranian regime's fear' of Tomaj and the people of Iran, emphasizing, 'We will continue to draw attention to this issue and fight for Tomaj's freedom.' Amnesty International recommended to the Iranian authorities in July of this year that instead of prolonging the legal process against this imprisoned rapper, he should be 'immediately and unconditionally' released. Tomaj Salehi was arrested on November 29, 2022, during the nationwide protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom' and was sent to prison. He was released on bail a year later but was re-arrested a few days later on December 3, 2023. The first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced this protesting singer to death on charges of 'conspiracy and collusion, and aiding in rebellion' on April 19 of this year. This sentence was later annulled by the Supreme Court. Abram Peely, the Deputy Special Representative for Iran at the U.S. State Department, described this action as a 'pretense of leniency' by the Islamic Republic aimed at 'misleading the world' and a judicial trick by the 'Iranian regime' to 'silence dissenters.'