Rapper sentenced to death in Iran is freed

Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was sentenced to decease for speaking retired against the Iranian regime, has been freed from custody.

He was released from situation connected 1 December aft completing a one-year sentence, according to Iran's Mizan quality agency.

Salehi had been sentenced to decease successful April by a revolutionary tribunal connected charges linked to unrest successful the state from 2022 to 2023.

His songs supported protests which were triggered pursuing the death of Mahsa Amini successful constabulary custody successful September 2022.

The 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian pistillate was detained for allegedly wearing an "improper" hijab that flouted Iran's Islamic formal code.

The demonstrations posed the biggest situation to the Islamic Republic's clerical leaders successful decades and gained worldwide support.

During those protests, Salehi was 1 of "the leaders of the riots who promoted violence", quality tract Iran International reported astatine the time, citing Iran's state-controlled quality agency, Fars.

Salehi was arrested successful October 2022 aft making nationalist statements successful enactment of the nationwide protests.

In 2023, helium was sentenced to six years successful prison, but past concisely released connected bail earlier being rearrested connected further charges. He was sentenced to decease successful April 2024.

Across the world, demonstrations took spot successful enactment of Salehi, including successful Spain, France, Germany, the US, Australia and London, wherever radical wore masks of his look and carried signs speechmaking "death condemnation for rapping".

In May, much than 100 artists, musicians, writers and starring taste figures signed a associated statement, organised by Index connected Censorship, demanding his release.

They included Sting, Coldplay, Dire Straits' David Knopfler and writer Margaret Atwood, champion known for her caller The Handmaid's Tale.

"We basal successful solidarity with Toomaj Salehi," the connection read.

"No creator should beryllium taxable to immoderate benignant of judicial harassment for exercising their close to state of expression, overmuch little beryllium sentenced to death."

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Salehi, who has 2.6 cardinal followers connected Instagram, had posted videos aft Amini's decease talking astir "revolution" and resistance.

Iranian officials had claimed Amini had suffered a bosom onslaught and was taken to hospital, but her household blamed the constabulary for her death, and reports accidental that she was beaten with batons and suffered a encephalon injury.

A United Nations fact-finding ngo said successful March that Ms Amini's decease was unlawful and was caused by "physical unit successful the custody of authorities authorities".

It added that Iranian women inactive endure systematic discrimination.

After Salehi was sentenced to decease successful April, Iran's Supreme Court overturned the determination successful June.