Salehi’s death sentence sparks outrage around the world. Well-known bands and human rights activists are drawing attention to the case with a petition.
More than 100 artists including Sting and the band Coldplay as well as human rights activists are calling for the release of death row Iranian musician Toomaj Salehi. “Salehi’s death sentence is the culmination of three years of legal harassment involving arrest, imprisonment and torture,” said the petition from the London-based organization Index on Censorship. The singer drew attention to the human rights situation in Iran in many of his songs.
“Art must be allowed to criticize, provoke, question and challenge authorities,” emphasize the signatories. “No artist should face any kind of judicial harassment, let alone be sentenced to death, for exercising their right to freedom of expression.” In October 2023, Salehi was awarded a freedom of expression award in the art category by Index on Censorship.
Death sentence in connection with mass protests
Salehi’s death sentence was announced at the end of April. The news sparked outrage in Iran and other countries around the world. The decision was made in connection with Salehi’s support for the mass protests in Iran in autumn 2022. In the past, the rapper had denounced social and political grievances in the country with his critical lyrics.
The composer and pianist Tamara Barschak called on other artists to join the petition. “The fact that this poor musician is facing execution for expressing his beliefs is appalling,” Barschak told the Guardian newspaper. “Everyone should talk about it.” Elli Brazzill from the Art Not Evidence initiative said protest music in particular has been censored around the world for thousands of years. “But to be sentenced to death for this is simply unimaginable.”
