Opinions

Iran’s harsh punishment of a rapper demonstrates its determination to silence opposition.



Iran’s crackdown on dissent knows no bounds, even resorting to murder.

Rapper Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan last week for critical songs about the government.

The primary charge against Salehi was “corruption on earth,” a crime punishable by death in Iran. Despite a Supreme Court decision qualifying his case for amnesty, the ruling went against it.

Salehi’s lawyer plans to appeal the decision within 20 days.

Salehi’s troubles began in October 2023 when he was arrested for his song supporting the Women, Life, Freedom movement protesting Mahsa Amini’s murder by Iran’s morality police in September 2022.

His lyrics reflected on innocent individuals facing punishment for trivial reasons.

After a brief release on bail, Salehi was arrested again days later for sharing a video detailing his torture and detention conditions.

This is just a glimpse of Salehi’s unjust treatment by Iran’s “justice” system.

He faced multiple arrests, sham trials, and false charges used against dissidents, spending over 500 days in detention, much of it in solitary confinement.

Throughout, Salehi was denied access to legal support, contact with his family, and subjected to torture.

All for expressing himself through music.

Imagine Jay-Z or Eminem facing death sentences for exercising freedom of expression.

Music has always been a powerful medium for reflecting culture, beliefs, and values throughout history.

Unfortunately, in authoritarian regimes, like Iran, voices like Salehi’s are silenced.

Dictators understand the power of music and use it as a tool of oppression.

The Human Rights Foundation works tirelessly to support prisoners of conscience in authoritarian regimes like Salehi.

Salehi’s case is emblematic of an authoritarian regime’s fear of dissent and the lengths they’ll go to suppress it.

The regime’s actions indicate their extreme fear of those willing to speak out against injustice.

The ongoing revolution in Iran began with a woman daring to show her hair, reflecting the regime’s extreme control over personal freedoms.

Artists have a significant influence on people, making creativity a form of dissent that dictators like those in Iran fear enough to resort to violence.

Claudia Bennett is a legal and program officer at the Human Rights Foundation.



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