Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi jailed over anti-regime protests

An Iranian rapper who backed anti-regime protesters past twelvemonth has been jailed for six years and 3 months, his lawyer and supporters say.

Toomaj Salehi, 32, was recovered blameworthy of "corruption connected Earth" but spared execution, Roza Etemad-Ansari said.

Mr Salehi was arrested during protests implicit the decease of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested by morality constabulary for not wearing a headscarf.

There was nary contiguous remark from the Iranian government.

Mr Salehi's lawyer said that his lawsuit had been cleared of "insulting the ultimate leader", Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and "communicating with hostile governments."

The complaint of "corruption connected Earth", however, is 1 of the country's astir superior offences covering insults against Islam and carries a imaginable decease sentence.

The sentencing of Mr Salehi comes aft months spent successful solitary confinement successful Dastgerd prison, successful cardinal Iran. He was subjected to a bid of closed tribunal sessions that were criticised by rights groups.

His lawyer told the Sharq paper that her lawsuit was transferred to the wide conception of the situation pursuing his sentencing - quality that was confirmed by a protagonist moving Mr Salehi's Instagram page.

The rapper besides shared clips of his songs supporting the movement.

Human rights activists said hundreds of radical were killed and thousands arrested for "rioting" successful the demonstrations that dispersed crossed the country, which the authorities said was fomented by overseas agents.

Seven men person been executed successful protest-related cases, the AFP quality bureau reports.

In an interrogation with CBC News days earlier his arrest, Mr Salehi said posting videos captious of the authorities was "hard, due to the fact that you are making yourself a people for the authorities forces".

He said that those successful powerfulness were a "mafia that is acceptable to termination the full nation... successful bid to support its power, wealth and weapons".

The rapper was archetypal arrested successful September 2021, aft his songs astir corruption, poverty, executions and unit against protesters went viral. He was released connected bail aft a week, amid wide condemnation of his arrest.