Iran plotting to keep dissident rapper behind bars say advocates

Rapper Toomaj Salehi is reportedly facing two new charges that advocates said is an attempt by Iranian authorities to keep the iconic voice of Iran's opposition behind bars.

The charges include 'spreading falsehoods' and 'spreading propaganda against the regime,' according to Negin Niknaam, an Iranian activist and Salehi's friend.

"I think they couldn't execute him because he's now famous. They're afraid of him. So one thing that the regime always does with famous people or artists in Iran is they try to isolate them or keep them in prison. I'm really worried about him," said Niknaam.

The new charges against Salehi could potentially be a crime punishable by death, said human rights lawyer Kaveh Shahrooz.

"Part of the problem with the usual charges they level against dissidents -- moharebeh (waging war on God) & endangering the regime -- is that they're incredibly vague and broad. So one is never really sure what is and is not a crime," said Shahrooz.

Salehi has been detained since October 31, 2022 in solitary confinement in Isfahan's Dastgerd Prison, which is a in a high-security ward controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) intelligence organization.

He rapped about political and social issues exposing the Islamic Republic's abuses through his lyrics. The rapper grew to international fame during the 2022 nationwide Woman- Life- Freedom moment, where he not only used his platform to echo the voice of protestors, but joined them in the streets.

In May, more than 100 music, culture and human rights icons, including Coldplay and Sting, signed a statement demanding Salehi's immediate release.

After international outcry and pressure, Salehi's death sentence was overturned by Iran's Supreme Court in June and less than two weeks after his release on bail, he was rearrested.

The hope of another bail release seems unlikely now, said Niknaam.

"I'm really depressed because we were excited. We were really excited that we heard that he may come out soon," she said.

German Member of Parliament (MP) YeOne Rhie, Salehi’s political sponsor, believes the Iranian government is plotting to keep the critic behind bars.

"I am asking myself why are they doing that? And I think the only reason is because they are so afraid of him that they don't want him out and freedom," said Rhie.

Toomaj is not the first famous activist to have his prison term extended.

Jailed Noble peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi is serving multiple sentences, which amounts to more than 13 years of imprisonment for her human rights activism. Her sentence was extended in January with an additional 15-months in for new charges concerning “spreading propaganda against the state."

Niknaam said she doesn't understand the rationale for the new charges.

"How can someone in prison spread lies or spread propaganda against the regime?...he's in prison, and he's only allowed to call his father and no one else," she added.

Rhie said Iran's new president elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, who was supported by Iran's Reform Front and is portrayed as a reformer, should take action.

"If the new president wants the Western world to believe that he has a reform and he wants to bring more freedom and democracy to the country, he should start right now and he should start with releasing all the innocent people."

Rhie said it would be symbolic for Pezeshkian to order the release of a figure like Salehi, who is often described as the "voice of the people of Iran" and the "son of Iran" but that still wouldn't be enough.

"Because we all know that there are over 20,000 other political prisoners," said Rhie.