Iranian Court Sentences Pop Singer Tatala to Death for Alleged Blasphemy

Iranian Court Sentences Singer to Death

An Iranian court has sentenced pop singer Tatala to death on appeal after he was found guilty of blasphemy.

According to a local newspaper Etemad, “The Supreme Court accepted the prosecutor’s objection” to a five-year prison term for blasphemy. It went on to say that “the case was reopened and this time the accused was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet,” referring to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Details of the Verdict and Background

It is reported that the verdict is not final and can be appealed, according to Guardian.

Tatalu – real name Amir Hossein Maghsudloo – emigrated to Istanbul in 2018 after being arrested several times by Iranian authorities and unable to obtain a music license from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

In December 2023, Turkish police handed him over to Iran, where he has been detained since then.

He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for promoting “prostitution”, and in other cases he was charged with disseminating “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content”.

The underground singer, known for his heavily tattooed appearance, released his debut album “Zire Hamkaf” in 2011. Since then, he has released 21 albums, including 2021’s Fereshteh, making him the first Iranian musician to collaborate with Universal Music Group.

His music has been previously utilized by conservative politicians seeking to connect with young liberal Iranians. In 2017, he held a televised meeting with conservative Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and in 2015 he released a song in support of Iran’s nuclear program.