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A new video campaign hopes to increase public pressure on the Iranian regime to release a prominent dissident rapper who has been arbitrarily detained for 80 days.
Launched by confidant Toomaj Salehi, who often goes by just his first name, the campaign calls on the global hip-hop community and other music artists to help save Toomaj.
Negin Niknaam, who for security reasons uses a pseudonym for his last name on social media, told CBC News that the rapper’s life is at great risk. He said Toomaj is still in solitary confinement.
Toomaj was indicted on several charges in late November, the most serious of which translates into “corruption on Earth” – a charge that under Iran’s Sharia law carries the death penalty.
Niknaam said there was a huge effort to bring attention to Toomaj’s case. This includes the support of German politicians Ye-One Rhiewho has taken political sponsorship from the rapper and has been lobbying the ambassador of the Islamic Republic to Berlin to release him.
WATCH | A social media campaign called on musicians to speak out about the Iranian rapper’s arrest:
Supporters of imprisoned Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi have launched a campaign on social media to draw attention to the case, saying he is at risk of execution.
But Niknaam said it was not enough, and that Toomaj could be sentenced to death at any moment.
“This is why I felt the need to come in front of the camera for the first time, even though it was risky for me,” Niknaam said.
He said Toomaj was released before formal sentencing.
‘Ain’t no famous rapper talking about him’
The Iranian regime continues to crack down on pro-democracy protests, including executions at least. four protesterswhich AND call it a state-sanctioned kill.
In addition to official executions, at least 525 Iranians, including 71 children, have been killed by the regime since popular anti-regime protests began on September 16, 2022, according to FOOD.
Protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not wearing a hijab by so-called morality police enforcing the Islamic Republic’s religious laws. His family insists he was beaten to death by regime agents.
Toomaj was one of the first prominent voices targeted by the regime when he was kidnapped by plainclothes agents on October 30, 2022.
In a video posted last Tuesday to Toomaj’s 1.2 million Instagram followers, Niknaam called on the international community to demand his release, “especially rappers and artists.”
“I’m surprised no famous rappers are talking about him,” Niknaam told the CBC. “Where is it?”
So far, thousands of social media users have commented on the video message, tagging rappers such as Drake himself, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Big Sean, as well as singers such as Adele, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
Iranian rappers Gdaal and Erfan, who are based in Toronto and Los Angeles, respectively told CBC News they were surprised and frustrated that none of the giants in the rap community, like Jay-Z, spoke about Toomaj or the protests in Iran.
WATCH | Toomaj spoke to the CBC about Iran’s level of violence:
Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi spoke to CBC News about what’s happening in his country.
Many Toomaj fans also tagged or tweeted at American rapper NF, who Toomaj has said he is one of the artists he wants to collaborate with.
Niknaam said that because Toomaj was the voice of the oppressed Iranians living under autocracy, it should be a rapper in the free world today to be his voice.
Multiple injuries
Father Toomaj had been allowed to visit him on at least four occasions, Niknaam said, while under the surveillance of intelligence officials.
At one meeting, Niknaam said, Toomaj asked his father what people outside were thinking or talking about him.
“My heart breaks when I hear this. If only he knew, how many people loved him and pushed for his release,” said Niknaam.
Eghbal Eghbali, Toomaj’s uncle, passed away toward Austrian media reported that when the rapper was kidnapped, regime agents tortured him so severely that he could not speak, eat or drink water for several days. Eghbali, who is based in Germany, said Toomaj had been unconscious for several days.
Report out of Isfahan prison, where Toomaj was detained, proved that he suffered severe injuries from torture, including a broken finger and a broken leg. There is also worried about the wound in the left eyewhich allegedly did not receive medical attention.
Despite this, Toomaj apparently asked his father to bring him a book to read.
According to Iran-watchersThe regime’s intelligence and security officials will determine Toomaj’s fate.
However, Iranians on social media expressed concern about the judge who will sentence Toomaj.
Morteza Baratiwho heads the first branch of Isfahan’s Revolutionary Court, has sentenced several people to death for their involvement in the protests.
The regime’s Revolutionary Court usually appoints its own lawyers for defendants, but Niknaam said lawyers appointed by Toomaj’s family were recently given access to review the rapper’s case files.
He said the lawyer had not been allowed to meet Toomaj in person.
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