Reports from supporters reveal that Toomaj Salehi, the Iranian rapper sentenced to death for his involvement in protests, has been stripped of his right to make phone calls from prison, as shared on his social media accounts managed by supporters.
Salehi, also known as Toomaj, was recently handed a death sentence which many activists view as retaliation for his music supporting nationwide protests in 2022.
The 33-year-old musician, a popular figure among Iranian youth even before his arrest, was found guilty of “corruption on Earth” by a Revolutionary Court under sharia law.
Despite his lawyers planning to appeal the verdict, Salehi remains incarcerated in Dastgerd prison near Isfahan.
His official social media account, now run by an administrator, highlighted the termination of his phone privileges at the facility, leaving him isolated from his family and the outside world.
In a distressing move aimed at increasing psychological pressure, all inmates at Dastgerd prison have been prohibited from interacting with Salehi, with severe repercussions threatened if they do so.
Criticisms over these actions as severe human rights violations have emerged, calling for immediate intervention.
German MP Ye-One Rhie, closely monitoring Salehi’s situation, condemned the restrictions as torture on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The global outcry against Salehi’s death sentence has led to demonstrations across different cities, urging Iran to spare his life and secure his release.
Toomaj’s arrest unfolded during the 2022 protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old detained by Iran’s morality police for an alleged dress code violation.
Activists have accused authorities of subjecting Salehi to torture, reinforced by a video released by state media showing him blindfolded with facial bruises, expressing remorse for his involvement in the protests.
Despite being granted bail in November 2023, Salehi was rearrested shortly after posting a video detailing alleged torture during his initial detention. Over the course of protest-related cases, nine individuals have already been executed for various offenses, including attacks on security personnel.
