Salehi, 33, was arrested in 2022 after publicly supporting mass anti-government protests and sentenced to death in April for spreading with his music “corruption on Earth” - a crime that only exists in the Iranian judicial system.
The sentence was heavily criticized by human rights organizations across the globe. It was eventually overturned on Saturday, according to his lawyer, Amir Raisian.
“It is a clear demonstration of the injustice of the lower court, and we are delighted that Salehi no longer faces the threat of execution,” said Index on Censorship, the Human Rights Foundation and Salehi’s international legal team at Doughty Street. “The Supreme Court found that the death sentence delivered to Salehi was excessive and failed to comply with Iranian law.”
“Even a shorter period of imprisonment would be an injustice: Salehi has done nothing other than to call for his, and other Iranians’, fundamental rights to be respected,” the group said.
Fatemeh Aman, senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute told OCCRP that “the overturn is a stark reminder of the urgent need for international solidarity with dissidents, a force that can bring about change even in the most challenging environments, such as Iran.”
Salehi’s case was a “prime example” of how a broad domestic and international outcry can be effective. The Iranian justice system needs immediate reform, he said, adding that no artist should be prosecuted for his work.
Salehi’s trial was held behind closed doors without the presence of his lawyer and U.N. officials expressed concern about reports that he had been tortured in jail and that his nose and his fingers were broken.
A year ago, various human rights bodies had also claimed that, during imprisonment, the rapper required emergency medical intervention after being tortured.
Salehi was previously sentenced to six years in prison and banned from producing music but the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Court overturned that verdict and released the rapper.
More than 300 musicians in Iran signed a collective statement to support Salehi and denounced his death sentence, describing the rapper as “a champion of the righteous aspirations of an entire generation of Iranians.”