Iranian rapper Amir Tatalo, who has been detained since December, was sentenced to prison after being tried in particular on charges of publishing “obscene content,” state media announced on Sunday.
The 36-year-old singer and songwriter was one of the pioneers of rap music in Iran, where he began his career in the early 2000s and moved to Istanbul in 2018 after failing to obtain a music activity license from the Iranian authorities.
“My client has been sentenced to long and short terms in prison,” his lawyer, Ilham Rahimifar, announced, citing Jam-e-Jam, the state television newspaper.
It did not provide details about the duration of these sentences or the reasons for the conviction, only indicating that it was a “preliminary ruling” subject to appeal.
Justice announced last December that Turkey had extradited the artist to Iran based on orders from a revolutionary court in Tehran.
His trial began at the beginning of March, in particular, on charges of “encouraging the younger generation into prostitution,” “propaganda against” the Islamic Republic, and “publishing obscene content in the form of clips and songs.”
Before leaving for Turkey, Emir Tatalo was arrested several times, especially in 2016 on charges of “disturbing public opinion.”
The rapper, who is tattooed from head to toe, sparked controversy in 2017 when he met with ultra-conservative candidate Ibrahim Raissi ahead of his election as president in 2021.
In 2015, he wrote a song in support of the Iranian nuclear program at the time of the conclusion of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the international community.
“Total coffee aficionado. Travel buff. Music ninja. Bacon nerd. Beeraholic.”
More Stories
Fluoroscopy | “Self-coup”?
This is why you find it difficult to wake up in the morning.
She meets her boss at the airport after taking sick leave.