US Condemns Ruling Against Tomaj Salehi; A Horrific and Widespread Violation of Human Rights

Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, condemned the ruling against Tomaj Salehi, the protesting artist, calling it "another example of the horrific and widespread violation of human rights by the regime in Iran." Patel referred to Salehi on Wednesday, April 24, during a press conference as someone who has "previously faced torture and other forms of harsh treatment and detention," and stated that the US condemns the Iranian regime's use of the death penalty as a tool for suppressing human rights and fundamental freedoms. In response to a question from Gita Arian, a reporter for VOA Persian, about potential US actions on the global stage to prevent the execution, he mentioned that there are various tools to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic to address "serious and blatant human rights violations" without going into details. Patel described reports of human rights violations by the Iranian government as "extremely concerning" and stated that the US will continue to highlight human rights violations and clarify such blatant suppressions to collectively hope with the international community to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its repressions. The US Special Envoy for Iran also strongly condemned the death sentence for Tomaj Salehi and the five-year prison sentence for Saman Yasin, another protesting rapper, calling for their "immediate release." Abram Pili wrote in a message on social media platform X that these sentences are "the latest examples of the regime's brutal persecution of its citizens, ignoring human rights, and fear of the democratic change that the people of Iran are seeking." Iqbal Iqbali, Tomaj Salehi's uncle, confirmed the issuance of the death sentence for the protesting artist in a conversation with VOA on Wednesday, April 24. The newspaper Shargh published in Tehran had previously reported on Wednesday, citing Salehi's lawyer, that the court issued a death sentence for this imprisoned artist based on the charge of "corruption on earth." Amir Reysian, one of Tomaj Salehi's lawyers, told Shargh that the lower court deemed the Supreme Court's ruling "advisory" and "did not implement it." According to Reysian, "Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, in an unprecedented action, did not implement the Supreme Court's ruling regarding Tomaj Salehi's 2022 case and, by calling this ruling 'advisory' and emphasizing the independence of the lower court, sentenced Tomaj Salehi to the harshest punishment, namely death, for the charge of corruption on earth." Mustafa Nili, another lawyer for Tomaj Salehi, also announced that "today (Wednesday) Tomaj Salehi's ruling was communicated," writing on social media X: "Unfortunately, a death sentence has been issued for him by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan." He stated that "from the lawyers' perspective, this ruling has evident legal contradictions" and that Salehi's lawyers will "file an appeal within the legal timeframe." On Tuesday, Tomaj Salehi's account, managed by an admin, published a message from him stating that his ruling had been communicated, but he refrained from announcing it because it "might have a psychological impact on his young supporters." Tomaj Salehi, a protesting rap artist, is currently in custody at the Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The hearing for the charges against Tomaj Salehi related to his 2022 case was held on Thursday, April 19, in Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, with the addition of two charges of "conspiracy and collusion, and aiding in rebellion." Tomaj Salehi has denied the charges and deemed this court "illegal," stating that his trial was conducted "not according to the law, but at the request of intelligence agencies." Protest writings in support of Tomaj Salehi have emerged, and his political representative criticized the "crimes of the Iranian regime," calling for his release. The hearing for Tomaj Salehi's case will be held on April 19 in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan. The political representative of Tomaj Salehi criticized the opposition to his temporary release; Tomaj will never leave Iran.