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Toomaj Salehi

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Toomaj Salehi
File:Toomaj-salehi.jpg
Background information
Also known asToomaj
BornDecember 3, 1990 (age 32)
Gerd Bisheh, Iran
OriginIranian
GenresRap, Hip-Hop
Occupation(s)Singer, Songwriter
Years active2017–present

Toomaj Salehi (Persian: توماج صالحی;born 3 December 1990) is an Iranian hip hop artist mostly known for his protest songs concerning Iran's societal issues and the policies of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.[1][2][3]

According to Salehi, his day job is as a laborer at a metalworking factory.[4][5]

Arrests

Iran's security forces arrested Salehi on September 12, 2021, in his house in Shahin Shahr, near Isfahan. He was charged with 'propaganda against the regime' and 'insulting the supreme leadership authority.'[6][7] He was released on bail on September 21, pending a trial. On January 23, 2022, the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Shahin Shahr sentenced Salehi to six months in jail and a fine.[8][9]

Salehi was arrested again on October 30, 2022, during the Mahsa Amini protests.[10][11] Fars news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, described him as one of “the leaders of the riots who promoted violence.”[12] The state media also said that Salehi was arrested during a border-crossing, a claim which was denied by Salehi's social media administrator, who announced that he was arrested in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, not a border province.[12]

Salehi was reportedly charged with "propagandistic activity against the government, cooperation with hostile governments and forming illegal groups with the intention of creating insecurity in the country".[13] The state-backed Young Journalists Club published a video of a blindfolded man it claimed to be Toomaj who admitted, apparently under duress, to making "a mistake". Salehi was reportedly placed in Evin prison.[14][15] According to his family, Iranian authorities have tortured Salehi while in captivity.[16]

His last music YouTube video posted prior to his October 2022 arrest included the lyrics, "Someone's crime was dancing with her hair in the wind. Someone's crime was that he or she was brave and criticized... 44 years of your government. It's the year of failure."[17][18]

On 26 November 2022, the family of Toomaj said his life was at risk after he went on trial behind closed doors.[19] On 27 November, Iranian media revealed that Salehi was charged with "corruption on Earth", an offense which could carry the death penalty. Salehi was also accused of spreading propaganda, co-operating with a hostile government, and incitement to violence.[20] According to Salehi's cousin Azadeh Babadi, Salehi was denied the right to hire a lawyer. Babadi believes the Iranian government is fabricating evidence.[21]

German member of parliament Ye-One Rhie has become his sponsor with an aim to improve conditions during his imprisonment and prevent execution.[22]

See also

Sources

  1. ^ "Toomaj Salehi: Dissident Iranian rapper could face death penalty". BBC News. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. ^ "Toomaj Salehi: W hy dem fit give di Iranian rapper death penalty". BBC News Pidgin. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  3. ^ "Iran: Jailed rapper Toomaj Salehi could face death penalty – DW – 03/28/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  4. ^ "Family fears for life of rapper 'violently arrested' after encouraging Iranians to protest". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  5. ^ ""Who is Tomaj Salehi and why did he become?"". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  6. ^ Esfandiari, Golnaz (2021-09-22). "'We Are The Dead Who Can't Think Of Dying': Iranian Rapper Charged For Criticizing Regime". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  7. ^ HRM, Iran (2022-01-25). "Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to prison and fine". Iran HRM. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  8. ^ Dagres, Holly (2021-10-12). "Down the 'Rathole': How a rapper channels Iran regime change discourse". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  9. ^ "Iran: Rapper wegen kritischer Lieder von Mullah-Regime festgenommen - Politik". bild.de (in German). 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  10. ^ "Iran Rearrests Popular Protest Rapper Salehi". IranWire. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. ^ "Meet Iran's dissident rapper helping youth circumvent regime internet crackdown - CBC News". CBC. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  12. ^ a b "Islamic Republic's Security Forces Arrest Dissident Rapper". Iran International. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  13. ^ "Who is Toomaj Salehi, the Iranian rapper who faces the death penalty?". euronews. 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  14. ^ "Iran protesters defy "brutal crackdown" as another teen is reportedly killed". www.cbsnews.com. 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  15. ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis (6 November 2022). "Family fears for life of rapper they say was violently arrested after encouraging Iranians to protest". CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Rapper who protested over death of Mahsa Amini faces execution in Iran". the Guardian. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Iran to hold public trials of 1,000 people charged with involvement in Mahsa Amini protests". CNN. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  18. ^ "موزیک ویدیو "فال" از توماج". YouTube. Toomaj.
  19. ^ "Iranian rapper arrested over supporting protests risks death penalty". France 24. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Toomaj Salehi: Iranian rapper could face death penalty". BBC News. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  21. ^ "Family fears Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj to be charged with crime punishable by death". CBC. November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  22. ^ https://globalnews.ca/video/9353046/german-mp-ye-one-rhie-on-political-sponsorship-of-iranian-prisoners
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