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Toomaj Salehi

Iran Is Preparing to Murder A Hip-Hop Artist for Committing … Music

In 2022, Iran had a 22-year-old woman murdered for improperly wearing a hijab. Now, it’s preparing to have a 33-year-old killed for rapping about it. It’s only more evidence of the lengths to which Tehran’s mullahs will go to oppress dissidents and maintain iron-fisted control over the country - and, indeed, over every aspect of Iranian life.

On October 30, 2022, Iran’s goons arrested Toomaj Salehi, a 33-year-old Iranian hip-hop artist, and detained him in its notorious Isfahan prison. His crime: committing music. His lyrics, roughly translated: “Someone’s crime was that her hair was flowing in the wind. Someone’s crime was that he or she was brave and [was] outspoken.”

The words are an obvious reference to the 2022 murder of Mahsa Amini, whom Iran had killed for “violating” the mandatory hijab law — because a few strands of her hair were showing. Her death sparked a women-led revolution, though it was strongly backed by men and boys, like Salehi.

The hip-hop artist could’ve been rapping about his future self: For “bravely” committing the “crime” of being “outspoken,” he was arrested and held on the absolutely absurd charges of “corruption on earth,” “spreading propaganda,” “cooperating with a hostile government” and “incitement to violence.”

The Iranian regime put off his trial until 230 days after his arrest. It didn’t allow him any real contact with his lawyer and he was eventually sentenced to six years. Salehi remained in detention for 384 days, 252 of them in solitary confinement.

After a ruling by Iran’s Supreme Court, Salehi was released, but (to the shock of no one), hauled back in again just 12 days later. This time, he posted a video describing the torture he endured in detention. Now, he’s facing essentially the same charges, one of which carries the death penalty. (NYP / VFI News)

“God, we pray for Toomaj Salehi and all the other Iranian citizens who are currently facing abuse, injustice, and even death at the hands of their regime. We pray that they will soon be released while being acquitted completely and that You will place a just leader to govern Iran and treat its citizens with love and respect at all times.”

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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