Toomaj Salehi

Rapper and anti-regime activist

Toomaj Salehi, or Toomaj as he is known in Iran, is an Iranian rapper mostly known for his protest songs about Iran's societal issues and the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Last year he was arrested for songs criticizing the regime. He was released on bail earlier this year. He has released rap songs with lyrics clearly against the regime and their corruption and the injustice they impose on the Iranian people. And calls on his compatriots to rise up and demand their rights. Here is one of his songs (with English Subtitles).

But it was not long before he found himself in prison again, and this time he may pay the ultimate price. In one video shared on Instagram, Salehi called on fellow Iranians to support the current uprising in any way they could. He channelled his anger in the way he knew best, with searing and uncompromising lyrics directed against supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Less than a week later, on the 30th of October, Toomaj was arrested on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the supreme leader’s authority”. His friends and relatives have little news of him: His family has not been allowed to visit him in prison, while the lawyer they appointed says he has not been able to see the detail of the case.

News agencies close to IRGC have shown videos of his forced confessions while he was blindfolded. A technique the Islamic Regime learned from Stalin: torturing a dissident brutally tills they confess against themselves, and then using those forced confessions to condemn them to death.

Then came the news on the 27th of November that Salehi was accused of “corruption on earth” —, a charge invented by Islamists that is usually a pretext to execute the person.

Drawing attention to his situation can help to preserve his life.

Please be his voice! Please Say his name!