Iran: Rapper Toomaj Salehi arrested again twelve days after his release
Popular Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi was arrested again on Thursday, 12 days after being released after more than a year in prison for his support of the 2022 protest movement.
People hold placards with portraits of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi (right), and portraits of children (left), who were killed during protests in Iran, during a rally in support of Iranian women in Istanbul, November 26, 2022. AFP - YASIN AKGUL
By: RFI Follow
Advertising
Read More
Popular Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi was arrested again on Thursday, 12 days after he was released after more than a year in prison for his support of the 2022 protest movement, according to his lawyer. "My client was arrested again today," said lawyer Amir Raisian.
Confirming this information, the Judicial Authority's agency, Mizan Online, said the singer had been arrested because he had "published lies and disturbed public opinion by posting false comments on the Internet". She was referring to a video posted on social media on 27 November in which Toomaj Salehi thanked his supporters after being released on bail on 18 November.
He was arrested in October 2022 before being sentenced to six years and three months in prison for "corruption on earth". In the video, he claims to have been tortured and beaten while in detention.
The 32-year-old popular rapper had supported, through his songs and on social networks, the protest movement triggered after the death on September 16, 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurdish detained by the morality police, who accused him of violating the strict dress code for women.
The Judiciary then accused the singer of "propaganda against the system", "disturbing the security" of the country, "cooperating with states hostile to the Islamic Republic" and "inciting violence". Foreign artists had given him their support, fearing that he would be sentenced to death.
Several hundred people were killed and thousands arrested during protests in October and November 2022 in Iran, before receding.
(
With AFP)
NewsletterGet all the latest international news straight to your inbox
Subscribe now
Keep up to date with all the latest international news by downloading the RFI app
Share:
Most read
1
28/11/2023
Bolivia: Sebastian Marset, the region's most wanted drug trafficker, continues to taunt the authorities
2
28/11/2023
A cult network of tantric yoga dismantled in France
3
29/11/2023