On Sunday, judicial authorities in the Islamic Republic announced the release of dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi from prison, following a custodial term that included his death sentence being overturned in June.
The 33-year-old hip-hop artist from Isfahan, who is also employed as a metal worker, had been incarcerated since December 2023, after being arrested on a bail violation for claiming he was tortured by regime officials during an earlier confinement.
Salehi, who has widespread recognition in Iran and among its diaspora, is internationally known for his critical music aimed at the repressive government in Tehran. This prominence grew during the 2022 nationwide protests that erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while she was detained by the country’s morality police for an alleged dress code violation.
The popular performer’s recordings have previously landed him in jail for such crimes as “corruption on earth,” "propaganda against the state," and "insulting the supreme leadership authority."
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