Yeh Van Ri's Reaction to the Death Sentence Issued for Tomaj Salehi: 'It Is Absurd and Inhumane'

Yeh Van Ri, the political sponsor of Tomaj Salehi, described the death sentence issued for the protest artist as 'absurd and inhumane' and stated that such a ruling 'has no basis in the rule of law' and is 'unacceptable.' Yeh Van Ri, a member of the German parliament and political sponsor of Tomaj Salehi, on Wednesday, April 24, following reports of the death sentence for the protest artist, said, 'It is still not entirely clear how this ruling was issued,' adding that Tomaj Salehi 'was sentenced to six years in prison last year on the same charges and was later released on bail.' The political sponsor of Tomaj Salehi accused the courts of the Islamic Republic of failing to uphold the law and, while calling for the immediate release of the protest rapper, stated, 'It is unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats the accused.' He pointed to the 'chaotic conditions' prevailing in the courts of the Islamic Republic, stating that adherence to the rule of law is impossible in such a situation. Earlier, Iqbal Iqbali, Tomaj Salehi's uncle, confirmed the issuance of the death sentence for the protest artist in an interview with Voice of America on Wednesday, April 24. The newspaper Shargh published in Tehran reported on Wednesday, citing Tomaj Salehi's lawyer, that the court had issued a death sentence for the imprisoned artist based on the charge of 'corruption on earth.' Amir Reisiian, one of Tomaj Salehi's lawyers, told Shargh that the lower court considered the Supreme Court's ruling to be 'advisory' and 'did not implement it.' According to Reisiian, 'Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, in an unprecedented action, did not execute the Supreme Court's ruling regarding Tomaj Salehi's case from 2022 and, by calling this ruling 'advisory' and emphasizing the independence of the lower court, sentenced Tomaj Salehi to the maximum punishment, which is death, for the charge of corruption on earth.' Mustafa Neyli, another lawyer for Tomaj Salehi, also announced that 'today (Wednesday) Tomaj Salehi's ruling was communicated,' writing on the social network 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 obvious legal contradictions' and that the lawyers for this imprisoned artist '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, the protest rapper, is currently in 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: 'conspiracy and collusion, and complicity in rebellion.' Tomaj Salehi has denied the charges and deemed this court 'illegal,' stating that his trial was conducted 'not based on the law, but at the request of intelligence agencies.'