Iranian rapper facing possible death sentence also accused of colluding with Canada

A popularIranian rapper facing a possible death sentence in Iran has also been accused by Iranian authorities of colluding with a hostile foreign government Canada because of an interview he gave to CBC News last year.

Toomaj Salehi is known for using his lyrics to openly criticize Iran's regime. He has amassed hundreds of thousands of fans online, including many Iranian-Canadians.

Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raesian, told an Iranian media outlet earlier this week after his client'scourt appearance that Salehifaces multiplecharges under Iranian law, including invitingchaos and disorder, spreadingpropaganda against the Islamic Republicsystem, disturbing order, insulting the founder of the revolutionand spreading lies.

The most seriouscharge he faces is that of spreading lies causing"corruption on earth," which could lead to the death penalty,Raesiansaid.

He said he was given 30 minutes to meet with Salehi at the Isfahan Intelligence Detention Centre but didn't have enough time to explain all the charges to his client. Raesiansaid he presented defences to each of the allegations.

Salehi also faces a charge ofcolluding with ahostile foreign government.That charge islinked to a rareinterview he gaveCBC News in October 2022.

Raesiantold the Iranian media outletHam-Mihanthatinterview is being cited as evidence of hisclient's co-operation with the Canadian government.

"Since the Canadian government is considered a hostile government in the eyes of the Isfahan Prosecutor's Office, as a result of this interview, it is an example of cooperation with the hostile governments," he recently told Ham-Mihan in Persian.

While CBC receives public funds, the federal government has no involvement in its editorial contentor journalism. That independence is guaranteed under theBroadcasting Act.

Salehi's cousin, Ava Salehi,addressed a rally in the Toronto area this week.

"I came here to beg you, let's not lose our Toomajs," shetold the crowd in Persian, referring to Iranians who, like her cousin, continue to push back against the regime.

Jonathan Wilkinson,Canada's natural resources minister, recently signed a letter voicing his support forSalehi, pledging to advocate for his release and demanding a moratorium on executions in Iran.Salehiis the fourth detainee Wilkinson has supported in his capacity as MP like this, and other B.C. MPs have also pledged to advocate on behalf of a number of other prisoners in Iran.

Before Salehi was imprisoned, he spoke to CBC News in Persian about his role in an underground movement fighting online censorship in Iran amid growing protests. The protest movement emergedafter 22-year-old Mahsa Aminidied in Iranian police custody following her arrestfor allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

Salehi has been in prison for roughly eight months and has been held for most of that time at Isfahan prison, according to a German member of parliament acting as one of his political sponsors.

The German politician, Ye-One Rhie, said she received confirmation of Salehi's detention from the office ofIran's ambassador in Berlin. She said she watched a video of Salehi in which he appeared to be "badly beaten," with indications ofbroken bones.

"As far as we know, he is innocent," Rhie told CBC News. "Every day that he is in prison is very unfair. It's not lawful."

Rhie said she was relieved to read a report by the semi-official news agency Tasnim this week that suggestedSalehiwillface a prison sentencerather than execution.

Raesiantweeted on July 3 that Salehi's trial had ended and he was awaiting thejudge's official ruling, which could land as soon as Sunday.

WATCH |Videos coming out of Iran a 'small picture' of what is happening:Toomaj Salehi:

Videos coming out of Iran a 'small picture' of whats happening, says Toomaj

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Duration 2:04

Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi talks to CBC News about whats happening in his country.

Rhie said she believes that even if Salehi's interview hadn't aired in Canada, the"ruthless" Iranian regime would have "found something else" to use against him.

"They tried to frame him with everything and anything," she said. "They want to frame him as somebody who was talking to international media outlets ... as someone who doesn't love his country and will betray his country.

"He spoke very freely of his own opinion, what he thinks or how he thinks a state or government should be. He was very much in solidarity with all the women who went to the streets."

CBC News sent requests directly to Raesian for comment and did not receive a response. Rhie said she is not in contact with Salehi's lawyer because it could endanger him and speaking with Canadian media could also put him at risk.

Rhie said she has no doubts about the candourof Raesian's rareinterview becausehe has spoken "so frankly" aboutthe Iranian regime.

Salehi's close friend and social media administratorNegin Niknaamis in direct contact with Salehi's family members in Europe and said the information posted on Ham-Mihan is accurate.

WATCH |Social campaign launched on behalf of jailed Iranian rapper:

Social campaign launched on behalf of jailed Iranian rapper Toomaj

2 years ago

Duration 1:27

Supporters of jailed dissident Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi have launched this campaign on social media to bring attention to his case, saying hes at risk of execution.

Salehi has hadtwo recent court appearances,including one on July 2 that only lawyers were allowed to attend, said Rhie. The hearing was held behind closed doors, something she called "very unusual."

"Usually the Iranian regime tries to instrumentalizethe person as much as possible, to put fear into the hearts of the protesters, to show them what could happen to them," said Rhie. "So it was very unusual that they didn't do that."

The trial came after the U.S. State Department said in April that it wasmonitoring Salehi's case. It calledon"Iran's leadership to release Toomaj now."

"Iran's harsh treatment of political prisoners is meant to intimidate people and suppress dissent, and it simply underscores just how much Iran's leadership fears its own people, particularly young people like Toomaj,"State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on April 6.

Canada 'closely monitoring' case

Global Affairs Canada said it's"closely monitoring the case of Toomaj Salehi with concern, as we are also monitoring other human right-srelated cases in Iran."

"In the case of Toomaj Salehi, and others arrested for their efforts to voice their grievances against their government, Canada calls on the regime to ensure they receive fair trials and have their due process rights respected," wrote Global Affairsspokesperson John Babcock in a statement.

Canada recently sanctioned Morteza Barati, the judge at the Esfahan Revolutionary Court who is reportedly setto release a decisionin Salehi's case.

Global Affairs said Iran's Revolutionary Courts are closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence. GAC laid sanctions against multiple judges, including Barati, for their role in gross and systematic human rights violations in Iran's criminal justice system.

"The Revolutionary Courts are notorious for issuing death sentences and harsh prison terms following sham trials and based on evidence gathered under torture," the department said.

"The Iranian Regime has used these courts to impose sentences against a broad range of Iranians, including Toomaj Salehi, as a means of suppressing and silencing Iranians from expressing their legitimate grievances against their government."

Niknaam said Salehi's family members in Europe are "very concerned" about his health and are calling on Iran's regime to provide him with medical treatment.