Iran Sentences Rapper Tataloo to Death for Blasphemy

Iranian rapper Amir Tataloo has been sentenced to death after an appeal court found him guilty of blasphemy, specifically for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The ruling comes after Tataloo, who had previously received a five-year prison sentence, was handed over to Iranian authorities by Turkey in December 2023, where he had been living in exile since 2018. Tataloo has faced multiple legal challenges, including a prior ten-year sentence for promoting 'prostitution' and charges of disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic. His case has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, highlighting the oppressive nature of Iran’s laws on free expression. Supporters of Tataloo are rallying for his release, while concerns grow over the potential swift execution of the death sentence. The situation underscores the broader crackdown on artists and dissenting voices in Iran amid increasing government repression.