In a shocking verdict, Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the protests that swept Iran in 2022. Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raesian, took to Twitter to announce that an order for his client's execution has been issued.

Salehi, 32, has been detained and held in solitary confinement since his arrest. Disturbingly, there are allegations of torture during his captivity. State media reports suggest that Salehi's death sentence is subject to reduction by a pardoning committee if he pursues another appeal.

The rapper has long been critical of the Iranian regime, using his lyrics and social media platform to voice his dissent against the government. In a previous incident, Salehi was briefly released from prison, only to be rearrested after publicly sharing a video revealing the torture he endured during his time in solitary confinement, lasting a staggering 252 days.

The news of Salehi's death sentence has drawn widespread condemnation internationally. The United States' Office of the Special Envoy for Iran took to Twitter to express its strong opposition, not only to Salehi's sentence but also to the five-year sentence handed down to Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. They called for the immediate release of both artists, highlighting the Iranian regime's ongoing disregard for human rights and oppressive treatment of its own citizens.

Salehi's case serves as another stark example of the Iranian government's suppression of dissent and its fear of the democratic aspirations that the Iranian people seek. As the international community rallies behind Salehi and Yasin, the pressure on Iran to address its human rights abuses is intensifying. It remains to be seen how the Iranian authorities will respond in the face of mounting criticism.