Artist Releases in Iran Offer Brief Hope

Artist Releases in Iran Offer Brief Hope The ongoing struggle for artistic expression in Iran has seen a rare moment of hope with the recent releases of artists. After 753 days in prison, rapper and activist Toomaj Salehi was released on 1 December, marking a significant win for resistance and solidarity. Cartoonist and activist Atena Farghadani was also freed on 10 December after her sentence was reduced on appeal. Freemuse welcomes the release of both artists. Farghadani was originally sentenced to six years—five for insulting religious sanctities and one for spreading propaganda—but her charges were revised. The religious sanctities charge was dropped, and the propaganda sentence was reduced to eight months. Farghadani had been detained in April 2024 after allegedly attempting to post a cartoon near Iran’s leader’s compound. Her case highlights the risks faced by artists in Iran, especially with growing government repression following protests for women’s rights. At the same time, the Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on women resisting the hijab law. Singer Parastoo Ahmadi was briefly detained on 14 December for performing a virtual concert on YouTube without a headscarf. The performance went viral. Iran’s judiciary confirmed a case against Ahmadi following the performance, though the charges remain unclear. Two of the men performing with her, Sohail Faghih-Nassiri and Ehsan Beyraghdar, were also detained. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran were initially banned from singing altogether and later prohibited from performing solo before mixed-gender audiences. While the recent releases in Iran represent a significant milestone in the fight for liberty, the continuing arrests also underscore the ongoing threats faced by artists. Toomaj Salehi, Parastoo Ahmadi, and Atena Farghadani, from left to rightImage credits: The artists on their social media

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Toomaj Salehi Freed: A Victory for Resistance and Solidarity

Toomaj Salehi Freed: A Victory for Resistance and Solidarity After seven hundred and fifty-three days in an Iranian prison, the rapper and activist Toomaj Salehi walked free on Sunday. Freemuse welcomes his release. But his journey to freedom has been emblematic of the tension and upheaval that have defined Iran’s political climate since the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police in September 2022. Salehi’s arrest, in October of that year, followed his outspoken role in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. His music and activism, criticising systemic oppression and the violence of the state, led to a conviction for “corruption on earth,” and a death sentence handed down in April 2024. Though the Supreme Court overturned the sentence in June, Salehi remained imprisoned, held on a constantly shifting list of allegations that underlined the arbitrary cruelty of the regime. Finally, on 1 December 2024, after serving a one-year term for propaganda against the Islamic Republic, he was released. Salehi’s detention has been marked by allegations of torture, including electric shocks, beatings that fractured his bones, and solitary confinement that stretched for months. Amnesty International labelled his trial “grossly unfair,” and his struggle drew global solidarity, with more than a hundred cultural and entertainment figures calling for his freedom. In a statement, his cousin, Arezou Eghbali Babadi, and a close friend, Negin Niknaam, expressed profound gratitude for the international outcry that they say helped secure Salehi’s release. But their message also sounded a cautionary note: “We cannot forget the unlawful and oppressive rules that continue to exert severe psychological pressure on freedom seekers and their families.” For now, Salehi’s release is a significant achievement in the fight for freedom, though it serves as a simple reminder of the ongoing risks faced by those who challenge a repressive regime. 

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Calls Intensify for Release of Egyptian Cartoonist Ashraf Omar

Egyptian cartoonist and activist Ashraf Omar has spent over 100 days in pre-trial detention under dubious terrorism charges. Arrested on 22 July, Omar’s satirical cartoons criticising government policy failures—such as Egypt’s debt crisis and power blackouts—are widely believed to be the reason for his imprisonment. Reports suggest he was beaten during his arrest and threatened with electrocution, and his detention has been repeatedly extended, most recently on 10 November via video conference, without evidence or due process. Freemuse, on 30 October, along with 15 other human rights and cartoonist organisations, joined calls for Omar’s immediate release, emphasising his right to freedom of expression. Omar’s case highlights systemic abuses, including mistreatment in custody, restricted family contact, and the misuse of pre-trial detention to silence dissent. Critics argue that Egypt’s actions send a chilling message to all artists and critics. Global organisations urge an end to his unjust detention, dismissal of baseless charges, and his safe return to family.    Read the petition here: cartoonistsrights.org/ashraf-omar-100-days.