Reports have emerged that Iranian pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, popularly known as Tataloo, has been sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. According to local media, the Supreme Court accepted the prosecutor’s objection to a prior five-year prison sentence, reopened the case, and imposed the death penalty for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
However, conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the authenticity of this verdict. Iran International reported that the judiciary’s media office refuted claims of a death sentence, stating that a final verdict has not yet been issued.
Tataloo, 37, an underground musician known for blending rap, pop, and R&B, had been residing in Istanbul since 2018. In December 2023, Turkish authorities extradited him to Iran, where he has remained in detention. Prior to the current charges, he faced a 10-year sentence for promoting “prostitution” and was accused of disseminating “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content.”
Despite his controversial image, Tataloo previously engaged with conservative Iranian politicians. In 2017, he held a televised meeting with then-President Ebrahim Raisi. Additionally, in 2015, he released a song supporting Iran’s nuclear program, which later faced international scrutiny.
The reported death sentence has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression and the severe penalties imposed for actions deemed disrespectful to religious figures in Iran. Supporters of Tataloo are advocating for his release and a fair trial, while the international community urges Iranian authorities to reconsider the reported sentence.
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