Pop artist Tataloo, real name Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, has been given a death sentence by an Iranian court after being found guilty of blasphemy. The hip-hop artist, known for his extensive facial and body tattoos, had a previous five-year jail term for blasphemy offenses overturned by the supreme court, as reported by local outlet Etemad, and he fled Iran for Istanbul in 2018. But the 37-year-old rapper was returned to Iranian authorities by Turkish police in December 2023. In addition to his blasphemy conviction, the underground singer also received a 10-year sentence for promoting “prostitution” and was charged with spreading “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content”. The Guardian reports that the sentence is not final and can be appealed. Tataloo released his first album in 2011 and made history in 2021 as the first Iranian musician to collaborate with music industry giant Universal Music Group. Throughout his career, conservative Iranian politicians have used him to connect with younger, more liberal audiences. In 2017, he conducted an uncomfortable interview with Ebrahim Raisi, who later died in a helicopter crash. In 2015, the singer released a song supporting the country’s nuclear program. Iran has solidified its reputation as a leading executioner globally, with a staggering 850-plus individuals put to death in 2023. A harrowing 10-day span saw the regime reportedly carry out executions at a rate of one person every six hours, on average. Amnesty International condemned the “chilling” surge in capital punishment, disproportionately targeting the Baluch minority, with the majority of convictions tied to narcotics.
Rapper sentenced to death after being accused of ‘blasphemy’ – World News – News | #rapper | #hiphop | #hacker | #court |
