Iranian rapper Tomaj Salehi
Much followed in his country, in his songs he
denounces the violence of the Iranian regime
and immediately took sides
in support of the vast demonstrations
that for seven weeks, since the death of
Mahsa Amini
, have been calling for
the end of the Islamic Republic.
Salehi was
arrested
and first transferred to
Dastgerd prison
in Isfahan.
The Iranian authorities have circulated a
photo in which the rapper is seen blindfolded and in custody
while he is being transported in a car.
Tomaj Salehi arrested while being taken to prison
Uncle
Iqbal Iqbali
said that yesterday the family went to Dastgerd, where he learned that
Salehi has been transferred to Evin
, the prison where political prisoners are held.
"
He is in the hands of intelligence officials
" and "
he is not authorized to call or receive visitors
", said Iqbali, sounding
the alarm on the safety of the musician
, whose life - according to him - "
is now .
in danger
".
The video-confession
is also further worrying
, according to the forcefully extorted family, in which
Salehi says to "
Repent
"
: he appears
blindfolded and on his knees and with signs of violence
and adds: "
I apologize to the Iranian people, I was wrong
".
The video was released by the media affiliated with the regime, but a campaign was immediately launched on social media in
Farsi
, the language spoken by 77 million people in the Middle East,
not to share it
: "
The purpose of these images is to create fear and despair. do not spread
them ", tweeted the famous
Hichkas
, considered the father of Persian rap and in self-exile abroad.
Salehi has long been in
the sights of the authorities for his lyrics
, in which he condemns corruption, repression and injustice in Iran.
Last year he had
already been arrested
, but released after a few days on bail, following a
broad campaign for his release
from him.
From the start of the protests that erupted over the killing of young
Amini
last month, Salehi felt at risk and had decided to go into
hiding, but not to leave Iran
.
Cartoon on Tomaj Salehi
He was
arrested on October 30
in the province of Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, while "
trying to illegally leave the western borders
", according to what was reported by the official media.
Isfahan prosecutor,
Seyyed Mohammad Mousaviyan
, accused him of having "
played a key role in creating chaos and encouraging the recent unrest in the province of Isfahan and in the city of Shahinshahr
".
For the regime, the ongoing demonstrations are
"
riots
" fomented by the enemies of Iran, Israel and the United States in primis
.
Most Iranian rappers publish their work
without the approval of the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guide
, the branch of the regime that regulates artistic work and applies censorship.
Several rappers have been arrested in recent years, while others have chosen to live in exile
.