In a shocking turn of events, an Iranian rapper known for his lyrics about the death of Mahsa Amini and his criticisms of the Islamic Republic has been sentenced to death, according to his lawyer and human rights activists. The rapper, Toomaj Salehi, a 33-year-old metal shop worker, has become the latest target of Tehran's crackdown on dissent following widespread protests in the country.

The news of Salehi's death sentence initially surfaced in a report by Iran's pro-reform Shargh newspaper, which stated that a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, a central city in Iran, had issued the ruling. However, neither Iran's state-run IRNA news agency nor its judiciary confirmed the sentence, adding to the confusion surrounding the case.

The international community, including the United States and United Nations experts, swiftly condemned Salehi's death sentence as a clear example of the Iranian regime's continued repression of free expression. The U.N.'s independent experts on Iran emphasized the importance of allowing art to criticize and challenge societal boundaries.

Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed that he had received notice of the death sentence and stated his intention to file an appeal. Revolutionary Courts in Iran often operate with closed-door hearings, limited rights for the accused, and reliance on secret evidence.

The case against Salehi stems from the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, who died while in police custody for not wearing a hijab according to United Nations investigators. They also concluded that Iran was responsible for her death and noted the violent suppression of largely peaceful protests, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of detentions.

Salehi had previously received a six-year prison sentence, but the case was sent back to the lower court due to flaws in the original ruling, leading to his temporary release. However, he was re-arrested in November after speaking out about the torture he endured during his earlier detention. State media released a video showing Salehi blindfolded and making a forced apology, indicating his statement was likely made under duress.

The fact that Salehi was sentenced to death after a reversal of his lesser sentence is highly unusual in Iran, indicating the severity with which the regime views his remarks. This follows a disturbing pattern of targeting journalists, activists, and musicians involved in the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations supporting Amini.

International activists and human rights organizations strongly criticized the death sentence, denouncing the Iranian regime's attempt to silence dissent. They called for Salehi's immediate release, asserting that his imprisonment stems from his vocal advocacy against state oppression.

The State Department spokesperson, Vedant Patel, echoed these sentiments, condemning the Iranian regime's blatant abuse of human rights and use of the death penalty as a means of suppressing fundamental freedoms.

As the fate of Toomaj Salehi hangs in the balance, the international community continues to closely monitor Iran's actions, putting pressure on the regime to respect freedom of speech and uphold human rights for its citizens.