More than 100 musicians, cultural icons, and human rights activists, including big names like Coldplay and Sting, have signed a letter demanding the immediate release of rapper Toomaj Salehi, who is facing the death penalty.
“As artists, musicians, writers and leading cultural figures we stand in solidarity with Toomaj Salehi," the letter reads.
"We call for his death sentence to be immediately and unconditionally quashed and for him to be released from detention without delay, with all other charges dismissed.
“Art must be allowed to criticise, to provoke, to question and to challenge authority. That is both our right and our duty as artists," it asserts.
A Revolutionary Court in central Isfahan sentenced Salehi, 33, to death last month.
Salehi was initially arrested in October 2022 after voicing support for the nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests that had erupted the previous month.
He released songs criticizing the government and supporting the protests demanding more civil freedoms and women's rights.
He also posted pictures and videos of himself during the demonstrations.
In July 2023, a court sentenced the artist to six years and three months in prison for "corruption on Earth."
He was released on bail on November 18 after the Supreme Court, responding to an appeal, found "flaws in the original sentence" and returned the case to a lower court for reexamination and possible retrial.
Salehi was returned to prison less than two weeks later to face new charges after publicly discussing his torture in prison in a video.
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