Death Sentence Issued for “Tatlou” (Amirhossein Messoudi) on Charges of “Insulting the Prophet”
A death sentence for Amirhossein Messoudi, nicknamed “Tatlou,” has been issued by Tehran’s Criminal Court on charges of “insulting the prophet.”
Singer Amirhossein Messoudi, known as Tatlou, was residing in Turkey when he was arrested following multiple private complaints and handed over to Islamic Republic authorities at the Bazargan border in autumn 1402. He had previously been detained by Turkish police at the request of Iran’s law enforcement, and Iranian police officials had announced that necessary measures would be taken to transfer him to Iran; however, after a week had passed, not only was he not transferred to Iran, but he was released by Turkish police.
“Ahmad Nourian,” spokesperson for Iran’s law enforcement, stated in an interview with the Young Journalists Club in 1398: “Due to a legal case that had been filed against Tatlou in Iran, a red notice was issued by Interpol and he was arrested in Turkey.”
In a case charged with “insult to sacred values,” Amirhossein Messoudi was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Ninth Branch of Tehran’s Criminal Court; however, this verdict was challenged by Tehran’s prosecutor and, after being overturned in the Supreme Court, was sent to a court of equivalent authority.
He was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in another case charged with “incitement to corruption and lewdness” by judge “Iman Afshari,” head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. He is currently serving his sentence in Tehran’s Grand Prison.
In December of last year (1403), the newspaper “Jam-e Jam” published a report stating that a death sentence had been issued for Tatlou on charges of “insulting the prophet,” but the report was denied by the IRGC-affiliated Farsi News Agency (FARS) minutes after its publication.
“Elham Rahimi Far” and “Majid Nagshi,” Tatlou’s defense attorneys, sent a letter to Shia religious authorities in Esfand 1403, expressing concern about these charges against their client and requesting that their opinion could lead to resolving this case. Tatlou’s attorneys wrote in this letter: “Despite the issuance of an acquittal ruling at the first stage of investigation into the charge of insulting the prophet, we have faced unlawful strictures, and the opinion of religious authorities could be decisive in resolving this case.”
“Asghar Jahangiri,” spokesperson for the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic, announced on Thursday, 28 Farvardin, in a press conference while confirming the news: “Amirhossein Messoudi, known as Tatlou, has been sentenced to death by the Sixth Branch of Tehran’s Criminal Court, and his verdict is currently under review in the Supreme Court following a petition for clemency. The death sentence for the aforementioned was issued on charges of insulting the prophet (insulting the Prophet and Muslim sacred values) based on Article 262 of the Islamic Penal Code passed in 1392 and Article 513 of the Islamic Penal Code.”
He also added regarding the petition for clemency of this verdict: “Messoudi has filed a petition for clemency regarding the issuance of this sentence; however, the finality or reversal of the death sentence has not yet been announced, and we are awaiting the results of the Supreme Court to be announced, after which necessary information will be provided. Therefore, any information regarding this matter before the Supreme Court announces its decision is not approved.”
