Protester singer Tomaj Salehi sentenced to death
Protest singer Tomaj Salehi was sentenced to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.
"Amir Raisian," Tomaj Salehi's lawyer, announced his client's death sentence on Wednesday, May 25. He said: "Tomaj's death sentence has been issued for the charges brought in the 1401 AH case." He stated that the Revolutionary Court, in an unprecedented move, considered the Supreme Court's ruling on overturning the lower court's ruling as "guidance" and sentenced Tomaj to the harshest punishment, namely death, on charges of "corruption on earth."
In his statements about Toumaj Salehi's sentence, Mr. Raisian said: "Branch One of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court has emphasized the extent of the charge of corruption on earth and issued a death sentence, even though the same branch had not previously established the extent of this charge. But what is even more strange is that the lower court also considered a supplementary sentence to the death penalty and sentenced Toumaj to a two-year ban on leaving the country, a two-year ban on artistic activities, and participation in behavior management and judicial skills classes in Isfahan. This court has also deemed Toumaj Salehi's suspended sentence to be enforceable."
Regarding Tomaj Salehi's other charges, Amir Raisian continued: "The Revolutionary Court considered other charges, including "disturbing public order," "spreading lies," and "calling for chaos through computer crimes," to be within the jurisdiction of Isfahan Criminal Court No. 2, and did not issue a verdict for these charges, and issued a stay of prosecution for the charges of "communication with hostile states and insulting the leadership."
Tomaj Salehi's lawyer cited the reason for this incident as the court's previous verdict of acquittal on this charge, and denied the news of his pardon or reduction of sentence, announcing that he would definitely appeal the verdict issued against Tomaj Salehi.
The new sentence issued for Tomaj Salehi comes after a hearing on his case was held in Isfahan Criminal Court No. 2 in late March of last year on charges of “encouraging acts of violence through computer systems” and “spreading lies through computers.” In July 1402, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced Tomaj to 6 years and 3 months in prison on charges of corruption on earth in a case filed in 1401.
The Supreme Court overturned the previous verdict against Tomaj Salehi, but Amir Raisian announced that even after the Supreme Court overturned this verdict and required the removal of two of his charges, the Revolutionary Court returned the case to the Isfahan Prosecutor's Office. He also announced in February of last year that two new charges had been added to Tomaj's previous indictment, and that he was facing charges of "rebellion," meaning an armed and group uprising against the system, as well as "gathering and colluding to commit crimes against security" in the 1401 AH case. Mr. Raisian stated that the indictment was issued despite the Supreme Court's emphasis that Tomaj would be eligible for amnesty.
"Je van Ree," a member of the German parliament and political sponsor of Tomaje Salehi, said in response to the news that he was shocked and angry. In response to the death sentence for Tomaje Salehi, he released a video message saying: "Issuing a death sentence for this singer is not logical, even based on Iranian procedures. How is it possible that the charges for which Tomaje received six years in prison last year have become so serious that he receives such a heavy sentence?"
Calling the verdict ridiculous and inhumane, he said in the aforementioned video to people around the world: "This verdict has no legal basis and is completely unacceptable. If you are as shocked and angry as I am and are concerned about Tomaj's well-being, contact the embassies of the Islamic Republic in various countries."
