ALBAWABA - In light of his participation in nationwide protests in 2022, Iranian authorities have sentenced rapper Toomaj Salehi to death on the charge of "spreading corruption on earth".
Amir Raisian informed SharghDaily on Wednesday that a revolutionary court in Tehran had rendered the verdict. "Spreading corruption on earth," along with "Moharebeh," is the most serious offense in Iranian law and is punishable with death.
Prior to the death sentence, he had been condemned to one year in prison, two years of passport revocation, and participation in a behavioral management course for "propaganda against the government".
The sentence sparked outrage across social media platforms, as human rights activists expressed their shock following the announcement.
One user took to X to express shock, saying: ". The level of the sentence is absurd and inhumane. This sentence has no basis in the rule of law and is therefore completely unacceptable"
The rapper was prosecuted for "crimes" that include "propagandistic activity against the government, cooperation with hostile governments, and forming illegal groups with the intention of creating insecurity in the country,".
Earlier in July 2023, Salehi was sentenced to six years and three months in prison after being found guilty of "corruption on Earth" charges. There had been rumors that Salehi would face the death penalty due to his participation in anti-government protests last year.
That comes after Salehi took part in the protests that stormed Iran around October of 2022 after Iranian "morality" police killed the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for "not wearing the hijab properly" after being detained for days.
In an interview, Salehi said that those in power were a "mafia that is ready to kill the entire nation... in order to keep its power, money and weapons". Salehi also said that his activism and art put him in the bullseye of Iranian authorities.
