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Green MP Chloe Swarbrick has joined New Zealand hip-hop artists such as Che-Fu and JessB in calling for the release of imprisoned Iranian rapper Toumaji Salehi.
Salehi, a prominent musician and activist who has criticized the Iranian regime in his music and participated in recent protests in Iran, could face the death penalty on Sunday after being accused of “corruption on earth”. There are concerns that washington post.
In a video posted on his social media pages, Swarbrick said: “Both you and Toumaji Salehi should be able to criticize politics and politicians like me.
“However, on October 30, 2022, Toomaj was arrested and detained by the Islamic Republic of Iran for rapping about freedom, regime change and Mahsa Amini.”
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“Toomaj is 32 years old and usually works as a day laborer as a metal worker, and after reading poetry and learning to play musical instruments as a child, he learned to rap. He is now 70. He has been in solitary confinement for more than a day and is at risk of blindness as a result of constant beatings.”
“18,000 Iranians have been detained since the protests began in September 2022,” Swarbrick said.
Chaos erupted in Iran last year after the death of 22-year-old Martha Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for not wearing the hijab correctly, sparking protests and condemnation around the world.
“Hip-hop artists here in Tamaki Makaulau have a message of solidarity,” Swarbrick said.
The video cuts to Che Fu saying “Free Toomaj Salehi, Free Iran, Peace”.
PollyHill, Diggy Dupe, JessB and MELODOWNZ also sent messages of support.
Swarbrick said the artists are “enthusiastic to use their platforms and voices to highlight the important rights that both they and Toomaj rely on to make their art and contribute to a free world.” came back to me with
“As Toomaj wrote in one of his songs, ‘Someone’s sin was to have a brave heart and a sharp tongue.'”
Green parliamentarian Gorliz Gharaman has criticized the government this week, saying it “has not yet condemned the execution of the latest Iranian protesters of Mohammad Hosseini and Mohammad Mehdi Kalami, who were killed on Saturday.” rice field.
“The EU and other Western leaders have formally condemned these deaths, imposed individual sanctions on responsible leaders, and designated Iran’s security services as terrorist organizations.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a December statement that the foreign ministry would meet with the Iranian ambassador to “re-register New Zealand’s condemnation of Iran’s use of the death penalty and the execution of protesters.”
New sanctions were also announced last month, using laws created to punish Russia for its role in supplying weapons technology to Russia.
“We stand by the people of Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said at the time. I ask you to.”
“We condemn the violent crackdown on human rights protests in Iran.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government was “taking strong measures against human rights abuses in Iran, including banning Iranian officials from traveling.”
“Aotearoa New Zealand is appalled by further executions of protesters in Iran.”
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