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Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Has Death Sentence Overturned, Will Face Retrial

Toomaj Salehi, the Iranian rapper sentenced to death for releasing music critical of the government, had the punishment overturned Saturday.

Toomaj Salehi, the dissident Iranian rapper sentenced to death in April for releasing music critical of the country’s government, had the punishment overturned Saturday and will face retrial. Salehi was ultimately charged with “spreading corruption on earth,” a death penalty offense, for releasing music critical of the government and urging his followers to join the protests. Following the Iranian supreme court’s ruling, the Index on Censorship, Human Rights Foundation and Salehi’s international legal team said in a statement, “While the supreme court’s decision is an important correction to Mr Salehi’s cruel and unlawful treatment, it is critical that his rights are properly respected.”

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