The Supreme Court of Isfahan province has charged Iranian rapper Tomaj Salehi with «corruption of the land,» a charge punishable by death, after he supported protests against the death of young Mahsa Amini.
Specifically, the rapper is accused of «spreading lies», carrying out «propaganda activities», as well as being part of «illegal groups with the intention of disrupting the country’s security», according to the ISNA news agency.
The Iranian rapper’s representatives confirmed the charges on his official Twitter account after «29 days of total silence» and reported that the lawyer chosen by the family to defend him «has not yet been able to see the details of the case».
His relatives, who were already aware of the charges, denounced on Saturday that the court sessions were being held behind closed doors and that Salehi, who was arrested last November 8, had no legal representation.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday ordered the Basij militias, the paramilitary forces under the highest Iranian authority, to «punish» the «troublemakers and terrorists» who, in his opinion, are behind the protests shaking the country.
The NGO HRANA estimates that more than 18,000 people have been taken into police custody, temporarily or so far, since the outbreak of the protests, which have claimed the lives of more than 480 people, according to Iran Human Rights (IHR).
