TOOMAJ SALEHI

Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper, has been sentenced to death amid significant controversy and international outcry. His charges stem from his involvement in the 2022 protests in Iran, during which he used his music to criticize the Iranian government. This case has drawn attention from the United Nations and various human rights organizations, which have condemned the sentence and highlighted it as a severe infringement on artistic freedom and expression.
The initial sentence was even contested within Iran's judicial system. Although the Iranian Supreme Court identified flaws in the original ruling and temporarily released him, a lower court later reinstated the death sentence. This back-and-forth within the judicial system underscores the complex interplay of legal and political pressures in cases involving dissent against the state.
International bodies and human rights advocates continue to press for Salehi's release, arguing that his artistic expression, critical of government policies, falls under the protection of international human rights laws regarding freedom of expression.