Outrageous death sentence against Iranian artist must be prevented
The chain of shocking news from the Islamic Republic of Iran continues unabated. As if the exceptionally high number of executions were not enough, we have received the news that yet another young person has to pay with his life for exercising his internationally recognised right to freedom of expression and art.
We are talking about Toomaj Salehi, the young Iranian hip-hop artist who is best known for his protest songs. His songs address the social grievances under the Islamic regime and criticise its inhumane policies. It became one of the symbols of the new freedom movement “Women-Life-Freedom” (“Jin Jian Azadi”). It seems that, parallel to the warlike actions abroad, the regime has also initiated a warlike escalation at home against the youth, the women, in short, against the rebellious citizens.
The young artist Toomaj Salehi was sentenced even though he had been acquitted and released from isolated detention only a few weeks ago. He was arrested again shortly after reporting on cruel torture.
It is clear that the Islamic regime is stepping up its policy of oppressing its own people.
The Iranian Forum in Austria condemns this unjustly imposed sentence in the strongest possible terms and is calling for the cancellation of the death sentence and the immediate release of Toomaj Salehi.
All responsible politicians of all parties in Austria, especially the human rights spokespersons, as well as the Austrian government, above all the Foreign Ministry, are urgently called upon to provide support and assistance so that this capital injustice is not realised.
The ongoing serious human rights violations by the Islamic regime in Iran must not go unanswered and without a response.
Preventing the execution of Toomaj Salehi should lead to the abolition of the death penalty in Iran as a matter of principle.
Prof. Dr. Siroos Mirzaei
Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran – Austria
Dr. Behrouz Bayat
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran
Vienna, 04.25.2024
