Iran rescinds capital punishment for musician Salehi
In Iran, the Supreme Court has reportedly overturned the death sentence given to renowned rapper Tumadch Salehi, as stated by his lawyer Amir Raissian. That means Salehi's case will be revisited in court.
Originally, Salehi was handed a death sentence by a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan for "corruption on earth," a major offense in the Islamic Republic's criminal law. The arrest of the 33-year-old musician took place in October 2022, due to his support for the protest movement following the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody.
According to Raissian, the Supreme Court's move aimed to stop a serious judicial mistake. Salehi expressed his solidarity with the protestors through his songs and online platforms. Amini's arrest was carried out by the Morality Police, who accused her of violating strict dress code regulations for women in Iran. Following her death, Iranian authorities deny claims that she died as a result of being beaten by the Morality Police, although her family asserts otherwise. This tragic incident sparked an unprecedented protest movement carrying the rallying cry "Woman, Life, Freedom."
During the protests, several hundred people lost their lives, with some being members of the security forces. Additionally, thousands were detained, and at least nine people have been executed for their connection to the protests.
Surprisingly, Salehi was granted bail in November, only to be re-arrested a short while later. A video he posted on YouTube shortly after his release accused the justice system of torture during his Isfahan detention.
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The overturned death sentence for Salehi marks a significant shift in Iran's use of the death penalty for artistic expressions, potentially paving the way for a review of similar cases. The rapper's songs and online platforms played a crucial role in expressing solidarity with the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which was sparked by the controversial death of Mahsa Amini under questionable circumstances.
