Toumaj Salehi Acquitted of 'Corruption' Charges

The lawyer of Toumaj Salehi, a jailed rapper critical of the government, announced on Wednesday, August 15, that the artist has been acquitted of the charge of 'corruption' and that the prosecution has been halted for other charges against him. Amir Reysian wrote on social media platform 'X': 'Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan issued a verdict of acquittal in the 2022 case of Toumaj Salehi regarding the charge of corruption, for which a death sentence had previously been issued.' He explained that Branch 5 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan also issued a suspension of prosecution for other charges and transferred two charges of disseminating false information and disturbing public order to the Criminal Court 2 due to lack of jurisdiction. The hearing for the case related to the 2022 protests involving Toumaj Salehi was held on August 12 in Branch 5 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan. Toumaj Salehi was arrested and imprisoned on October 30, 2022, during nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. He was released on bail in late November of the same year but was re-arrested by the Iranian government forces 12 days later in December 2023. The first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan had sentenced this protesting singer to death on April 18 of this year for 'gathering and colluding' and 'aiding in rebellion.' This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in July of this year following widespread protests around the world and an appeal. Abram Pili, Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. Department of State for Iran, described this action as a 'pretense of leniency' by the Islamic Republic aimed at 'misleading the world' and a judicial tactic by the 'Iranian regime' to 'silence dissenters.' Toumaj Salehi has faced multiple pressures and fabricated cases while in prison. This protesting rapper is now facing four new charges of 'insulting sacred beliefs,' 'inciting violence and murder,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'disseminating false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.' A German parliament representative and political sponsor of Toumaj Salehi stated on Wednesday in a press release regarding the recent court ruling: 'Even if this is good news for Toumaj, the ping-pong game between the courts again shows that the Iranian regime is far from the rule of law.' He emphasized the need for Toumaj Salehi's freedom, pointing out that court rulings are 'issued and revoked without any legal basis' and added: 'The regime ignores human rights.' He noted that the current situation in the Iranian judicial system 'wears down innocent political prisoners and their loved ones' and stated that this issue 'is not new to us, but it does not mean that clarifying all of this is of lesser importance.' This German parliament representative emphasized that they are 'carefully monitoring' the policies of the Iranian regime and said: 'My goal is to have all false charges' against Toumaj Salehi dismissed. 'We will not settle for anything less and continue to demand Toumaj's freedom.'