Iran Court Overturns Salehi’s Death Sentence

Ondo Monarch Sentenced to Three Years for Court Contempt

Eko Hot Blog reports that Iran’s supreme court has overturned the death sentence of popular rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was imprisoned for supporting nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.

His lawyer made the announcement on Saturday, in a post on X, noting that Iran’s highest court has ordered a retrial.

“Salehi’s death sentence was overturned,” stated Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer.

Back in April, Salehi had been sentenced to death by an Iranian court on charges of “corruption on earth,” Raisian had previously disclosed.

The rapper was also convicted of “assistance in sedition, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the state and calling for riots,” the lawyer added.

Salehi, aged 33, was arrested in October 2022 after publicly supporting demonstrations triggered by the death of Amini, which occurred a month earlier while she was in police custody in Tehran.

“The Supreme Court prevented a serious judicial mistake,” Raisian commented, also stating that the court found Salehi’s “previous sentence (6 years and three months) was also issued without adherence to the rules governing multiple offenses.”

The protests, lasting several months following Amini’s death, resulted in numerous casualties, including dozens of security personnel, and led to the arrest of thousands as authorities moved to suppress what they labeled foreign-instigated “riots.”

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In January, another singer, Mehdi Yarrahi, who had criticized the mandatory headscarf for women, was sentenced to a cumulative two years and eight months in prison on multiple charges, which were to be served concurrently. However, his sentence was later commuted to house arrest due to health concerns.

Nine men have been executed in cases related to protests, including killings and other acts of violence against security forces.

The compulsory wearing of the hijab for women in Iran has been in place since 1983, following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Despite increased defiance of the strict dress code by women since the protests, Iranian authorities have recently intensified enforcement measures against violators.

Reports from Iranian media indicate that police in Tehran have launched an operation codenamed “Noor” (meaning light in Persian) to crackdown on those who flout the dress code. Additionally, cafes and restaurants have been shut down for non-compliance with hijab rules.

Moreover, Iran’s parliament has passed a draft law titled “Chastity and Hijab,” aimed at increasing penalties for women who do not adhere to the dress regulations.

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Stephen Jesuwale

Jesuwale Stephen is a journalist who finished from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He is a distinctive writer, media strategist and also a Digital Marketer