Toomaj Salehi, a prominent Iranian rapper, has been sentenced to death by an Iranian court for his alleged involvement in the nationwide protest movement triggered by the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini, a Kurdish woman, nearly two years ago. Salehi, aged 33, was arrested in October 2022 and labeled as one of the protest leaders by outlets associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Isfahan Revolutionary Court convicted Salehi of "corruption on earth," citing charges including aiding sedition, assembly and collusion, propagating against the system, and inciting riots.

Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raisian, revealed to Iran's reformist Shargh Daily newspaper that the court issued the death sentence despite apparent legal contradictions and without following the Supreme Court's ruling. Raisian expressed intentions to appeal the decision, emphasizing the unusual nature of the ruling's discrepancy with the Supreme Court's directive.

Amini's death while in police custody in September 2022 ignited widespread protests across Iran, initially demanding greater freedoms for women but escalating into a broader anti-government movement. The ensuing crackdown by authorities resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests, drawing heavy international criticism and sanctions against Iran for its repression of dissent.

Salehi, who was released on bail in November 2023 due to discrepancies in his original sentencing, was subsequently returned to prison. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between Iran's government and dissenting voices within the country, as well as the broader implications of human rights abuses and political repression in the region.