Dubai, Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, previously detained for expressing support for anti-government protests, has been arrested again, as reported by Iran’s state media on Thursday. Salehi was released on bail earlier this month but now faces new charges of publishing false information and disturbing public opinion, following an order by Iran’s supreme court to review his case.
The judiciary news agency stated, “Salehi has been arrested for publishing false information and disturbing public opinion, after being released upon an order by Iran’s supreme court to revise his case.”
Salehi, known for writing songs about the nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September 2022, had initially received a six-year prison sentence on various charges, including “corruption on earth.” However, the ruling was later overturned by Iran’s supreme court.
During his previous incarceration, the 33-year-old rapper spent one year and 21 days in prison, with 252 days in solitary confinement, resulting in physical injuries, as per his official page on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The arrest comes amidst ongoing protests challenging the Islamic Republic, marking one of the most significant challenges since its establishment in 1979.
