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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Iranian Pop Star Tataloo Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

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TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian court has sentenced Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, the popular musician known as Tataloo, to death on charges of blasphemy, according to reports from local media.

The decision follows an appeal by prosecutors who objected to his initial five-year prison sentence.

Charges and Sentencing

Tataloo, 37, was initially convicted of offences including blasphemy, for which he received a five-year jail term.

However, Iran’s supreme court accepted the prosecutor’s objection to the sentence, reopening the case and escalating the punishment to the death penalty for “insulting the prophet” Muhammad.

Local media outlets, including the reformist newspaper Etemad, have reported that the verdict is not yet final and may still be appealed.

Arrest and Detention

The underground musician, who had been living in Istanbul since 2018, was extradited to Iran in December 2023 after being detained by Turkish authorities.

Since his return, Tataloo has remained in detention and has faced additional charges, including promoting “prostitution”, disseminating “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”, and publishing “obscene content”.

A Controversial Figure

Tataloo, known for blending rap, pop, and R&B, has long been a divisive figure in Iran’s music and political scene.

Heavily tattooed and outspoken, he attracted a young, liberal-leaning audience, often clashing with Iran’s conservative establishment.

Despite his controversial image, Tataloo was once courted by Iranian conservatives seeking to engage younger audiences.

In 2017, he held a widely criticised televised meeting with then-President Ebrahim Raisi, a staunch ultraconservative who later died in a helicopter crash.

Tataloo also gained notoriety in 2015 with a song supporting Iran’s nuclear programme, a stance that briefly aligned him with the regime before relations soured.

Broader Context

The death sentence against Tataloo highlights the Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown on artistic and cultural expressions deemed incompatible with Islamic or state values.

Critics say the case underscores a broader campaign of silencing dissenting voices.

The musician’s high-profile conviction has drawn attention to Iran’s harsh judicial system, where charges of blasphemy and moral misconduct are often met with severe penalties.

Uncertain Future

While the court’s verdict is not yet final, the international community is closely monitoring the case.

Human rights organisations have previously called attention to Tataloo’s detention and broader issues of freedom of expression in Iran.

As Tataloo awaits his final fate, his case serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by artists who challenge societal norms in repressive regimes.

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