Interrogation of Protest Rapper; Toumaj Salehi Participated 'via Video Conference' in Court

Amir Reisiann, the lawyer for Toumaj Salehi, states that the interrogation session for this imprisoned protest rapper took place on Sunday at the Isfahan prosecutor's office. According to Mr. Reisiann, 'Toumaj participated in the session via video conference and answered the prosecutor's questions in the presence of lawyers.' The lawyer expressed hope that 'with the rectification of the investigation deficiencies, the case will be sent to court for primary consideration as soon as possible.' He had previously reported on the uncertainty surrounding Toumaj's case, stating that the case of this detained protest rapper had been returned from the court to the prosecutor's office, but the prosecutor's office has 'not executed the court's order for more than a month.' Amir Reisiann, one of Toumaj Salehi's appointed lawyers, who took on the defense after the indictment and the ruling of guilt, mentioned that the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office 'to rectify the deficiencies in the investigation.' He noted that they have been waiting for 'the execution of the court's orders' by the prosecutor's office for 'more than a month.' Mr. Reisiann told the Shargh network that he was informed that the interrogation session was scheduled for Thursday, April 26, but 'the session was not held due to the prosecutor's absence.' According to Toumaj Salehi's lawyer, the case is returned to the prosecutor's office when 'the deficiencies have been rectified,' but after the case is returned, lawyers no longer have access to it, and therefore do not know 'which of the charges the court's order to rectify the investigation pertains to.' Toumaj Salehi, an active protest rapper during the nationwide protests of 1401, was arrested in November and was deprived of the right to choose a lawyer for two months. He faces charges including 'corruption on earth,' 'propaganda against the regime,' 'collaboration with an enemy state,' 'inviting people to murder and unrest,' and 'insulting the leadership.' Nasir Mashkouri, a writer and music critic, stated to Voice of America regarding the reasons for the Islamic Republic's violent crackdown on Toumaj Salehi, his concerning conditions in prison, and the necessity of supporting this rapper that 'there is no place for Toumaj Salehi or any other artist in prison, and they must be supported.'