Today, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Amir Reisian, the lawyer of Toomaj Salehi, a protesting artist, wrote on his personal page on X: “Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan has issued a death sentence for Toomaj Salehi.
As the lawyer of the case, he announced further details in an interview with Shargh Network: “Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, in an unprecedented move, did not execute the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding Toomaj Salehi’s case from the year 2022. Instead, they deemed it “guidance” and emphasized the court’s independence. Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to the harshest punishment, which is execution, on charges of spreading corruption on Earth.”
Reisian further stated, “The Revolutionary Court in Isfahan has considered the charges of subversion, conspiracy, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the system, and incitement to riot as a whole falling under the category of spreading corruption on Earth, according to Article 512 of the Penal Code. Emphasizing the extensive nature of the corruption, they have issued the death sentence for Mr. Salehi. This is despite the fact that the same branch had not previously confirmed the extent of the charges of spreading corruption on Earth.”
However, the more surprising aspect is that the initial court, in addition to the death penalty, has also considered a supplementary sentence for Toomaj Salehi. He has been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a two-year prohibition on artistic activities, and participation in behavioral management and judicial skills classes in Isfahan. The court has also deemed the suspended sentence applicable to Toomaj Salehi.”
Ye-One Rhie, a member of the German Parliament and political sponsor of Toomaj Salehi, described the issuance of the death sentence for this protesting rapper as ‘inhumane’ on her personal page on X and stated: “It is still completely unclear how this verdict came about. It is unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats defendants. It is impossible to recognize the rule of law in the chaos of the courts in charge.”
Toomaj’s political sponsor further said: “This verdict would not be reached in this way in any international trial based on the rule of law. I call for a full investigation of this case by the Iranian regime and the immediate release of Toomaj Salehi.”
This protesting rapper was arrested on Monday, October 30, 2022, during the nationwide protests, in the village of Gerdabishah, which is located in the Gandoman district of Borujen city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
Toomaj Salehi was released from Isfahan Central Prison on the evening of Sunday, November 18, 2023, after enduring one year and 21 days of imprisonment, with 252 days of it spent in solitary confinement. He was granted temporary release on bail until the completion of the trial process.
On November 30, 2023, Toomaj Salehi was detained for the second time by a number of armed security forces in the city of Babol. The arrest was accompanied by violence and severe beatings. He was later transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan and is currently held there as a prisoner.
