Iranian dissident Toomaj Salehi is freed after facing execution

Toomaj Salehi, a well-known Iranian rapper from Isfahan, was liberated by the Iranian judiciary on Monday after serving two years in prison for his music. His release follows an international campaign advocating for his freedom.

The 34-year-old Iranian dissident was imprisoned in 2022 and was initially given the death penalty for his outspoken support of the women's uprising against the Iranian regime. His arrest and mistreatment sparked international outrage, leading to a high-profile campaign that placed public pressure on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), ultimately resulting in his release.  

Support for Salehi’s case came from all over the world, including Israel. A huge portrait of the rapper covers an entire wall in Neve Ilan, in the foothills of Jerusalem. The mural highlights some of his lyrics in support of Iranian women.

"The cries of the oppressed fill my chest, my throat is swollen with their pain. The blood of our protesters is my ink."

The “Women, life, freedom” protests began in September 2022. when Mahsa Amini (22) died while in police custody after being arrested by the “morality police” for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly.

Salehi released a song called “Battlefield” soon after the incident, praising the protesters and describing their demonstrations as a “revolution.”

The Neve Ilan mural, painted by two Israeli artists and commissioned by Iranian-born Hooman Khalili, also included some words adapted from Psalm 59:1, "Deliver Toomaj from his enemies, O my God; be his fortress and rescue Toomaj from those who attack him."

During the unveiling of the mural on May 15, Khalili asked, "Why is no one camping at the universities for Toomaj? Thank you, Israel... this innocent man has been tortured in prison for two years, and is about to be executed. Thank you Israel for caring about the people of Iran, thank you Israel for helping us fight our common enemy, the Islamic regime."

Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, former deputy mayor of Jerusalem, was also present at the event and affirmed the solidarity between Israel and the Iranian people.

"We both recognize that we have one enemy: The Islamic, Jihadi fundamentalism and the head of the snake sits in Tehran, and that is the Islamic Republic of Iran. They fund Hamas, they fund Hezbollah, they fund the Houthis, they've destroyed Lebanon, they've destroyed Syria, and we're all facing the same evil. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the Hitler of today, make no mistake about it," she said.

In November 2022, a UN report stated that at least 300 people had been killed who posed no threat, including at least 40 children. According to the report, an additional 14,000 people had been arrested during the protests, with several still facing execution.

In April 2024, Salehi was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court in Isfahan on charges of "spreading corruption on Earth." However, Iran’s Supreme Court overturned the sentence in June.

Iranian activist Kianoosh Sanjar had vowed to take his own life if Salehi and three other detainees were not freed. Tragically, Sanjar followed through on his promise, committing suicide just a month before Salehi’s release.

In a post on 𝕏, Masih Alinejad, another Iranian activist now living in the United States, wrote, “Toomaj Salehi, a well-known Iranian rapper and fearless voice of “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, is finally free from prison. This is a testament to the power of global solidarity and the impact of raising our voices for those who cannot speak for themselves.” 

She added, “Toomaj, who was sentenced to death for his songs of defiance against oppression, should never have been behind bars. I want to thank the international community for standing with him and proving that unity and relentless pressure can save lives.”