- 5
- 11.07.2023 11:24:00
- 2 min read
Iranian rapper Tumaj Salehiy (Toomaj Salehi) was sentenced to six years and three months in prison by the Islamic Republic court for participating in protests in the country in the fall of 2022. This was reported by Al Jazeera.
The verdict was handed down on 10 July. According to the court, Salihiy was actively involved in anti-government protests that began after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
The 33-year-old rapper, who was arrested in October last year, was critical of the Iranian government in songs and clips widely circulated on the internet.
After the musician's arrest, state media released a video featuring him blindfolded asking for forgiveness for his words.
Mahsa Aminiy from Kurdistan region had died shortly after being arrested by Tehran ethics police on 13 September on charges of improper hijab wrapping. Witnesses accused the security forces of beating the girl. Police said Amini's death was an accident.
On September 17, after the funeral of the girl, protests began in the city of Sakez, where she was born and grew up, and later spread to all major cities of the Islamic Republic. The protests continued all autumn.
A total of about 20,000 Iranians were arrested for participating in anti-government protests. Seven people were later sentenced to death in closed trials.
