# Iran Court Issues Death Sentence to Rapper for Supporting Protests
## A Popular Rapper’s Battle for Freedom
In a disconcerting turn of events, renowned rapper Toomaj Salehi was meted out a death sentence by an Iranian court for publicly supporting nationwide protests two years ago. According to Salehi’s defense attorney, Amir Raisian, this decision was made on Wednesday, April 24. Despite being backed by the Supreme Court’s ruling, Branch 1 of Isfahan Revolutionary Court independently sentenced Salehi for ‘corruption on Earth’. It is pertinent to note that Salehi was violently rearrested and kept in solitary confinement for over 252 days in Isfahan last year, as reported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
## Salehi’s Long-Standing Opposition of the Revolutionary Government
Salehi was initially imprisoned in October 2022 for allegedly engaging in seditious activities and inciting riots following the suspicious death in police custody of Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini. Amini was allegedly detained for violating Iran’s rigid dress code for women. Raisian has assured that an appeal against Salehi’s sentencing will be launched. Moreover, Iranian state media has reported the possibility of this sentence being reduced by a pardoning committee upon appeal. Another notable development relates to Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin who was imprisoned following the protests.
## Global Outrage at Salehi’s Sentencing
Salehi’s harsh sentencing has spurred international criticism. The United States’ Office of the Special Envoy for Iran expressed vehement condemnation of Salehi’s death sentence and a five-year sentence for Saman Yasin, urging their immediate release. Furthermore, Ye-One Rhie, a German Parliament member and sponsor of Salehi, has also called for the rapper’s release, bringing attention to the lack of clarity behind the court’s decision and the arbitrary and irresponsible actions of the Iranian regime.
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@OfficialToomaj has been sentenced to death. The level of the sentence is absurd and inhumane. This sentence has no basis in the rule of law and is therefore completely unacceptable. 1/3 
– Ye-One Rhie (@YeOne_Rhie) April 24, 2024
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### DPH’s Hot Take
In a world that celebrates creative expression and asserts the importance of the right to freedom, the sentencing of rapper Toomaj Salehi is deeply concerning, reflecting an environment of oppression and disregard for human rights. This case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for the international community to stand against such blatantly repressive measures and reaffirm the universal principles of democracy, fair treatment, and freedom of expression. Moreover, it emphasizes the crucial role of art and artists as catalysts for social change and justice, even amidst barriers of stringent political regimes. The defense and protection of these rights are paramount for the sustenance and progress of true democratic societies.