United Nations member states must call for Toomaj Salehi’s release

This afternoon, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, will address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. He left Tehran for New York on Sunday, reportedly accompanied by a large delegation of 40 people, including close family members.

Pezeshkian’s trip to New York comes as renowned rapper and human rights activist  Toomaj Salehi remains in prison in Iran despite widespread international  condemnation. Salehi’s music and activism have supported the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, challenged corruption, and tackled human rights abuses by the Iranian authorities. In retaliation for his work, Salehi has been subjected to over three years of judicial harassment. He has been imprisoned, beaten, and tortured. In  April 2024, he was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court for “corruption on earth,” punishable by death under the Islamic Penal Code. The death sentence was overturned by the Iranian Supreme Court in June 2024 and referred to the Revolutionary Court for sentencing. But months later, Salehi remains  imprisoned — and now the authorities have charged him with fresh offences for his music and his work. The Iranian authorities continue to refuse to provide him with adequate healthcare, including treatment and pain relief for his torture-inflicted injuries.  

Two Urgent Appeals have been filed with United Nations (UN) bodies. In May 2024, an Urgent Appeal was filed with two UN Special Rapporteurs by an international  legal team at Doughty Street Chambers on behalf of the family of Toomaj Salehi and Index on Censorship. In July 2024, the Human Rights Foundation submitted an  individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Salehi’s  case, in conjunction with the counsel team at Doughty Street Chambers and Index on  Censorship. 

Today’s Call 

In advance of Pezeshkian’s speech today, Salehi’s family, his international counsel team at Doughty Street Chambers, Index on Censorship, and the Human Rights Foundation call for Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Salehi. 

Salehi’s friend and manager of his social media accounts, Negin Niknaam, said: “Toomaj remains unlawfully in Dastgerd prison despite the lack of an arrest order and being in need of urgent medical care to avoid permanent disability for injuries he  endured in custody under torture, which in itself is forbidden as per Article 38 of the  Iranian Constitution.  

I ask UN Member States to urgently raise these concerns, remind the Islamic Republic of Iran’s authorities of the legal obligations and demand a full commitment for the immediate release of Toomaj from President Masoud Pezeshkian before his address at  the United Nations General Assembly in New York.” 

Salehi’s cousin, Arezou Eghbali Babadi, added: 

“The international community’s solidarity and support have played a key role so far in  ensuring the death penalty for my cousin Toomaj Salehi was overturned. Now the  international community must speak out and press the Iranian president to release  Toomaj, before it is too late.” 

Notes to Editors: 

• Any press queries for Index on Censorship should be directed to Jemimah  Steinfeld on jemimah@indexoncensorship.org.

• Any press queries for the Human Rights Foundation should be directed to  Claudia Bennett at claudia@hrf.org or media@hrf.org. 
• The international legal team is led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, working with  barristers Jonathan Price, Sam Jacobs and Nikila Kaushik. Any press queries  for the international legal team should be directed to  press.enquiries@doughtystreet.co.uk or c.gallagher@doughtystreet.co.uk.  
• More background about Toomaj Salehi is available on social media, at  @OfficialToomaj (X) and @ToomajOfficial (Instagram). More details of the  campaign can be found at #FreeToomaj.

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