Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Faces Trial, Dismisses Allegations

Imprisoned Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, 33, went on trial on March 16 for charges including "encouraging acts of violence" online and "spreading lies," his lawyer says.

Amir Raisian, Salehi's lawyer, said the trial took place in Branch 117 of the Criminal Court of Isfahan province. 

Salehi "appeared in the trail via video conference."

According to Raisian, the rapper refuted the accusations during the trial and provided explanations to the court in his defense.

Salehi's page on X, managed by his relatives outside Iran, emphasized that if the court is "independent," the only just verdict would be Salehi's "acquittal and release." 

They wrote, "There was no legal and justified citation," and the trial concluded with Salehi defending his positions.

Salehi was initially arrested in October 2022 after making public statements in support of the nationwide Women, Life, Freedom protests that had erupted the previous month.

He released songs criticizing the government and supporting the protests demanding more freedoms and women's rights. He also posted pictures and videos of himself during the demonstrations.

In July 2023, a court sentenced the artist to six years and three months in prison for "corruption on Earth." 

He was released on bail on November 18 after the Supreme Court, responding to an appeal, found "flaws in the original sentence." It returned the case to a lower court for a reexamination and possible retrial.

Salehi was returned to jail less than two weeks later to face new charges after publicly talking about his alleged torture in prison in a video.