“Saman Seidi” (Yaseen): I Request My Own Execution
“Saman Seidi,” known as Saman Yaseen, sent a letter to the Head of the Judiciary requesting his own execution.
Saman Seidi, performing under the artistic name Saman Yaseen, was an Iranian protest rapper active on social media. He was arrested in early October 2022 following nationwide protests and was imprisoned on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God). Initially, he was sentenced to death on these charges, but the Supreme Court overturned the verdict, and his court ruling remains undetermined to this day.
He wrote a letter to the Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic requesting clarification of his legal sentence. Noting the physical and psychological problems he has suffered while imprisoned, he stated that he prefers execution to his current conditions.
Saman Yaseen’s letter, which was sent from Qarchak Prison in Karaj, was posted on his official Instagram page last night. While exposing the prison pressures that have resulted in physical and psychological problems, and the prohibition against his transfer to medical facilities, he wrote to the Head of the Judiciary: “Please tell me what crime I have committed? If I am guilty, then imprison me; if I am innocent, then drop the charges. I do not understand what all this anger, harm, and torture by judicial authorities toward me means. I request execution from you! I cannot endure prison and this uncertain status for a crime that neither you nor I know. Please issue my execution order. I have no objection and I myself will give written consent with my fingerprint and signature.
My life is shattered, you have taken my mental, psychological, and physical health. You conducted a mock execution, took me to a psychiatric hospital—what is left to do to me? Take my life as well, and be done with it. Without any documents or evidence, I am imprisoned in uncertain status, and in these 18 months, multiple court sessions were set for me but never held. I prefer execution to 18 months of uncertainty.”
Political prisoner “Ahmad Reza Haeri,” in recent months, following a letter he wrote from Qarchak Prison, referred to Saman Yaseen’s condition, saying: “When Saman Yaseen was in Ward 240 of Evin Prison, he experienced a mock execution, and two days later a real execution order was delivered to him.” In part of his letter, he called for an investigation involving Saman Yaseen’s cellmates who witnessed his transfer that night, and after hours of being taken away, Saman Yaseen was returned in unsuitable psychological conditions.
Saman Yaseen also reported in September 2023 by releasing an audio file about the physical and psychological torture inflicted on him. In this audio file, he stated that he was subjected to a mock execution, his nose was broken, he was placed in a morgue, and transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
Saman Yaseen is currently living in uncertain status in prison, and due to the letter he wrote to the Head of the Judiciary, his life is in danger. It remains unclear what sentence will be issued for him.
