A popular dissident Iranian rapper has been sentenced to death for supporting protests over the death of a woman arrested for wearing an 'improper' hijab. Toomaj Salehi, 33, will be hanged for charges linked to a period of nationwide unrest following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022, Salehi's lawyer told Iranian newspaper Sharq on Wednesday.
In public statements, Salehi had vocalised support for the wave of 'Women, Life, Freedom' demonstrations, leading to his arrest in October 2022.
He also released songs criticising the Iranian regime and demanding greater liberties and women's rights. Salehi had posted pictures of himself attending some of the protests in support of Iranian-Kurd Mahsa Amini.
Amini died in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating strict hijab rules. Demonstrations since have led to thousands of arrests, as well as reports of torture and death at the hands of the Iranian state.
