Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Iran's judiciary confirms rapper Toomaj Salehi death sentence

This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo) This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo)
Share
DUBAI -

Iran's judiciary confirmed the death sentence of well-known Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi but added that he is entitled to a sentence reduction, state media reported on Thursday.

Salehi's lawyer Amir Raisian told Sharq newspaper on Wednesday that an Iranian Revolutionary Court had sentenced his client to death for charges linked to Iran's 2022-2023 unrest.

Salehi was arrested in October 2022 after making public statements in support of the nationwide protests, sparked by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman arrested over wearing an "improper" hijab.

On Thursday the judiciary's media department confirmed Salehi's death sentence based on charges of "corruption on earth," adding that the verdict entitled the defendant to a sentence reduction due to "his expression of remorse and cooperation with authorities."

Salehi has 20 days to appeal his sentence with the Supreme Court. If the sentence is upheld, the judiciary's amnesty commission would review his case to potentially commute his sentence, the judiciary media's department added.

In 2023, Iran's Supreme Court had rejected Salehi's charges of "corruption on earth," a capital offence under Iran's Islamic laws. The ruling has not been enforced, however, in what Salehi's lawyer called "an unprecedented move" by the judiciary.

The hashtag #FreeToomaj has been trending on social media platforms such as X, with users calling for Salehi's immediate release.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom. Editing by Gerry Doyle)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'

The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.