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Iranian Court Sentences 37-Year-Old Rap Pioneer Amir Tataloo to Death for Blasphemy

Jan 19, 2025, 07:13 PM

An Iranian court has sentenced Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Amir Tataloo, to death on charges of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. The 37-year-old singer, a pioneer in Iranian rap, was initially sentenced to five years in prison, but the sentence was overturned on appeal by the Supreme Court, which accepted the prosecutor's objection. Tataloo had been living in Istanbul since 2018 after failing to obtain a music license from Iranian authorities. He was extradited back to Iran by Turkish authorities in December 2023 and has been detained since. The death sentence is not final and can be appealed.