Supreme Court overturns Toomaj Salehi's death sentence

Iran's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of imprisoned Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, which shocked millions of Iranians and human rights activists, as well as Western politicians.

“The Supreme Court avoided an irreparable miscarriage of justice. Toomaj Salehi's death sentence has been overturned and, based on the appeal decision of the 39th branch of the Supreme Court, the case will be sent back to the parallel chamber for consideration,” wrote Salehi's lawyer , Amir Raisian on X.

Salehi was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court in Isfahan in April this year for “spreading corruption on Earth.”

Salehi, winner of the 2024 International Václav Havel Prize, has faced a tumultuous legal battle in Iran since his multiple arrests by security forces, including in October 2022 for supporting nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while he was detained by the moral police.

Referring to the initial judgment regarding his prison term before the death sentence, Raisian added on Saturday that the Supreme Court had suggested that “even the previous sentence” was imposed “without respecting the laws.”

Originally sentenced to 6 years and three months in July 2023, Salehi was released on bail on November 18, 2023. However, less than two weeks later, the 32-year-old dissident rapper was rearrested on new charges of “publishing of lies.” after posting a video detailing his experiences of torture in detention, as reported by Raisian.