Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi released from prison after 753 days

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been freed from prison, over two years since he was first arrested.

Salehi had originally been sentenced to death in April for the offence of “corruption on Earth”, after speaking out against the Iranian regime and backing anti-government protests that broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini – a 22-year-old woman who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody.

He announced the news yesterday (December 2) via an Instagram post. The caption (translated) read: “Toomaj Salehi, son of Iran, after suffering 753 days of cruel, unfair and without reason and legal support, by passing the excuses and legal games of the owners, today was released from Dastgert Prison."

Read this next: Iranian rapper Säye Skye: “They go after us because they know the power of art”

“While expressing joy and happiness, we will wait for the end of all fake cases and accusations, and complete and unconditional release of Toomaj,” it continued.

In June, Iran’s Supreme Court overturned the capital sentence, which had caused outcry from the international music and entertainment communities.

In May, over 100 musicians, artists, writers and cultural figures signed an open letter calling for Salehi’s “immediate and unconditional release”, including Rob da Bank, Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall, Coldplay and The Quietus’ founder John Doran.

Salehi had been known for criticising the government in his music, while he had previously said that Iranians are “living somewhere horrific. You are dealing with a mafia that is prepared to kill an entire nation in order to keep its power, money and weapons”.

Read this next: 11 Iranian DJs that you need to know

The rapper was first arrested in October 2022, and spent over a year in prison – including 252 days in solitary confinement – before being released on bail. After detailing being “severely tortured” in prison, he was rearrested two weeks later in December 2023, when he was charged with the capital offence of “corruption on Earth”.

Human rights organisations had criticised his detention and trial, with Amnesty International alleging that “authorities dismissed his complaints of torture, including electric shocks, death threats and repeated beatings resulting in bone fractures and vision impairment in one eye”.

Isaac Muk is a freelance writer, follow him on Bluesky