Rapper Salehi: A symbol of resistance arrested in Iran!

Rapper Salehi: A symbol of resistance arrested in Iran!

Isfahan, Iran - The Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who is known for his regime -critical texts, was arrested during the protest wave in autumn 2022. Salehi, 35 years old, has repeatedly denounced social and political grievances in Iran in his songs and social media. He has shown himself to the demonstrators of his platform that protest against the Iranian government and the Islamic system of rule. Because of these activities, he was initially sentenced to death, but this judgment was later lifted. Instead, he was instructed in the DASTGERD prison in Isfahan, Centraliran, for insulting Islamic sanctuaries and calling for unrest in social media. After a time in custody, Salehi was released in December 2024, but under serious conditions, as reports show. The EU reacted to its case and in June 2023 imposed sanctions against those responsible, including the Attorney General of Isfahan, who had charged Salehi, according to the information from Kleine Zeitung .

The detention of Salehi is part of a major problem of human rights violations in Iran. According to SPIEGEL express the regime. The pressure on such voices has increased in recent years, especially after the nationwide protests.

systematic human rights violations

Salehi's case throws a light on the ongoing human rights violations in Iran. According to a report by Amnesty , ethnic and religious minorities, such as Kurdish, Belutschische and Baha’i groups, also show discrimination in education and living space. These groups are often affected by arrests, persecution and abuse. Many were arbitrarily imprisoned, tortured or even the death penalty because of their convictions. In some cases, the military is responsible for the deadly attacks on unarmed civilians without being investigated.

Reporting on the situation in Iran shows that there is a deeply rooted culture of fear in which even critical voices such as those of Toomaj Salehi have to take considerable risks. The international pressure often overlaps with the efforts to reform, but often remains without noticeable changes. The Salehis case is not just an isolated event, but part of a more comprehensive context in which artists, intellectuals and activists fight against an increasingly repressive regime.