Isfahan, Iran – Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi is facing a death sentence for his involvement in the 2022-23 unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini due to police brutality. Salehi, known for his protest lyrics and social media activism, was executed for his role in the protests, according to reports from the reformist Shargh newspaper.

Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, was initially arrested for allegedly wearing an ‘improper’ hijab and tragically died in police custody. Her death sparked nationwide protests in Iran that later expanded globally in support of women protesting the compulsory hijab. Nearly two years after the protests, Salehi has been sentenced by an Iranian revolutionary court for his alleged involvement in the unrest.

The well-known Iranian rapper supported the protests in Iran through his music that resonated with the demonstrators in 2022. Salehi was first arrested in October 2022 for publicly expressing support for the protests, leading to a six-year and three-month prison sentence in 2023. Despite initially escaping the death penalty after a Supreme Court ruling, Salehi now faces the threat of execution following the recent verdict from the Iranian judiciary.

According to Salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan disregarded the previous Supreme Court ruling and imposed the harshest punishment of a death sentence on Salehi. Raisian stated that they intend to appeal this verdict, seeking a reduction in the sentence for Salehi.

The death sentence for Salehi has drawn criticism from the US Office of the Special Envoy for Iran, condemning the Iranian judiciary for its brutal treatment of citizens, lack of respect for human rights, and suppression of democratic aspirations among the Iranian people. The international community continues to monitor Salehi’s case closely as his fate hangs in the balance amidst growing concerns over human rights violations in Iran.