Death Sentence for Pop Singer; Tataloo's Mother: He is 'Sick' and 'Genius'

Some media outlets in Iran, citing the Islamic Republic's state television, report that the judiciary has sentenced Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as the pop singer Amir Tataloo, to death; simultaneously, the Fars news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, has denied this news. Nonetheless, Amir Tataloo's mother expressed her uncertainty about the death sentence in an interview with the state news agency Rokna, stating that authorities should consider her son's case 'as a patient' and 'a musical genius.' She expressed hope that the death sentence would be 'reviewed and overturned' by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, adding, 'I really do not understand why such a punishment has been imposed on my son.' The issuance of the death sentence for Amir Tataloo comes after the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic had previously overturned a five-year prison sentence against him. Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, a well-known pop singer, was returned to Iran from Turkey a year ago and was accused by a Tehran criminal court of 'blasphemy,' which carries the harshest penalty of death under Iranian law. Judicial authorities stated that this accusation was based on videos the popular singer had released among Iranian youth and his songs. Earlier this year, Mr. Maghsoudloo was sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 9 of the Tehran Criminal Court, but following an appeal by the prosecutor, his case was sent to the Supreme Court and then referred for reconsideration to a parallel branch. The case was judged again in Branch 6 of the Tehran Criminal Court, and this time the judges sentenced Mr. Maghsoudloo to death 'by majority vote.' Previously, Amir Tataloo had also been tried in the Islamic Revolutionary Court for 'corruption on earth' and sentenced to ten years in prison, a ruling that was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. The judiciary stated that no facilities had been granted to Tataloo in prison, and he had also faced disciplinary punishment. Reports indicate that Tataloo is working on a new album and has written a song for 'Imam Ali.' The spokesperson for the judiciary announced Tataloo's 'objection' to the court's ruling, and the case is currently in the appeals stage.