Key pointsToomaj Salehi, well-known on Iran’s rap scene, was arrested late final month after denouncing the regime.His household tweeted that his “life is at critical threat proper now” as he confronted costs of “enmity in opposition to God” and “corruption”.Tens of 1000’s of individuals have signed an internet petition calling for international authorities to forcefully demand the discharge of Mr Salehi.
The household of an Iranian rapper detained for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini’s demise mentioned his life was in danger after he went on trial behind closed doorways on Saturday.
Toomaj Salehi, well-known on Iran’s rap scene, was arrested late final month after denouncing the regime and displaying assist for the protests, human rights teams mentioned.
Iran has intensified a crackdown on the protests sparked by the demise of Ms Amini after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaching the nation’s strict gown code for girls.
Demonstrations have swelled since September, right into a broad motion in opposition to the Iranian regime.
“Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi had the primary day of his so-called ‘trial’ immediately in Tehran with out a lawyer of his alternative,” the New York-based Middle for Human Rights in Iran mentioned on Twitter.
His household tweeted that his “life is at critical threat proper now” as he confronted costs of “enmity in opposition to God” and “corruption on earth” — sharia-related costs which are capital crimes within the Islamic republic.
Mr Salehi had disappeared on the finish of October earlier than showing in a video revealed on 2 November by Iran’s state-run media.
The video claimed to indicate the primary pictures of Mr Salehi after his arrest.
It depicted a tattooed man in a sleeveless black T-shirt sitting on the bottom, carrying a blindfold and looking out bloodied and bruised.
The person mentioned: “I’m Toomaj Salehi. I mentioned I made a mistake. I mentioned… that it is best to run. I did not imply you.”
Activists condemned the recording as a pressured confession extracted below duress.
Mr Salehi’s detention got here shortly after he gave an interview extremely crucial of the regime to the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation.
“You might be coping with a mafia that is able to kill all the nation… in an effort to maintain its energy, cash and weapons,” Mr Salehi mentioned within the interview.
He’s certainly one of plenty of outstanding figures to be arrested in a mass crackdown that has seen dozens of journalists, attorneys, civil society and cultural figures arrested.
The state of affairs in Iran has additionally been within the international highlight in the course of the 2022 Soccer World Cup as the nation on the world stage.
Iranian state media declare Mr Salehi was arrested whereas making an attempt to cross one of many nation’s western borders, however his household has denied this saying he was within the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari on the time.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals have signed an internet petition calling for international authorities to forcefully demand the discharge of Mr Salehi and all different harmless protest and political prisoners in Iran.
On Thursday, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) vowed to undertake a into the lethal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran.
These inside Iran are usually not the one ones whose lives are impacted by the regime there, members of Australia’s Iranian group have mentioned they