Rapper Toomaj Salahi is known for speaking up against the regime through his lyrics. Shortly after he released his song “Faal” (meaning “fortune telling”) where he predicted what will happen after Iran changes, he was arrested in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province on 30. October 2022.

Based on his music, social media posts and an interview he did with Canadian CBS News, Toomaj was accused of “war against god” (moharebeh), “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel arz) and colluding with a hostile foreign government. For a long time he was kept in solitary confinement, suffering through torture and expecting death sentence. But possibly due to massive international attention, he was “only” sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison.