The regime could make examples of them. Saman Yasin, a young Kurdish rapper, faces execution in Iran for supporting protests that have rocked the regime since September, The Guardian reported on Friday. He was arrested three weeks ago by the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s morality police.
According to the British newspaper, the artist has been accused of “enmity against God” and risks capital punishment. Popular and acclaimed rapper in Iran, Saman Yasin has often criticized the regime, including writing messages of support for protesters on social networks and devoting several songs to hot topics such as unemployment and the oppression of the people.
“We know that the government easily kills people and directly sentences detainees to death,” warned Soma Rostami of the human rights NGO “Hengaw”. “Saman Yasin is in grave danger and we should be her voice,” she added. Other organizations are warning about the fate of the artist’s family, which has not spoken since his arrest.
Subjected to “serious torture”
Toomaj Salehi, another 32-year-old Iranian rapper was also arrested on September 30, according to the Guardian, for writing songs in support of protesters and posting pictures of himself chanting slogans against security forces. His relatives claim that he has since been subjected to “serious torture”. His arrest had led his fans to start online petitions demanding his release and the hashtag #FreeToomaj was widely shared in Iran.
Massive protests have been held in Iran since the September 16 death in custody of Masha Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian girl arrested by morality police. A large part of Iranians are calling for the fall of the authoritarian regime and a relaxation of the Islamic law in force in the country.
According to the UN, around 14,000 people, including children, have been detained by the regime since the start of the protests and human rights organizations are warning that the regime could launch a campaign of executions in order to stifle any protest. “The Iranian authorities announced earlier this week that they would hold public trials for more than 1,000 people arrested in Tehran and a similar number outside the capital,” warned Javaid Rehman, the United Nations special rapporteur. united.
The NGO “Hengaw” explains for its part that the execution of famous prisoners like Saman Yasin and Toomaj Salehi could be used by the Iranian regime as an example in order to terrify opponents.