DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A prominent hip-hop artist and vocal government critic, Toomaj Salehi, has been released from prison after spending just over a year in custody, following international outcry regarding his lengthy detention. His notoriety partly stems from his lyrics addressing the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread protests across Iran in 2022.

Salehi had faced a death penalty from the Revolutionary Court, known for its opaque judicial processes and minimal rights afforded to defendants. This severe sentence, which drew widespread condemnation, was eventually rescinded in June of this year. Media reports from various Iranian outlets, including the reform-oriented Hammihan daily, confirmed that Salehi was released on a Sunday.

In reaction to his release, the New York-based Artist At Risk Connection, an organization dedicated to protecting cultural workers facing threats due to their artistic expressions, emphasized the dire dangers that artists encounter when they confront authoritarian governments. Their statement highlighted the ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights of these artists amid such oppressive circumstances.

Salehi’s initial arrest occurred during the widespread unrest triggered by Amini’s death while in police custody, following her apprehension for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. He incorporated Amini into his music, referring to the societal impact of her death and questioning the regime, claiming in one verse: “Someone’s crime was dancing with her hair in the wind.” In another segment of his work, he foretold the possible fall of Iran’s current theocratic leadership.

Throughout his detention, Salehi reported experiencing torture and harassment, stating in a video that he faced brutal conditions while imprisoned. His troubles culminated in a further arrest in November 2023, after state media aired a video of him appearing blindfolded and recanting his previous statements, widely believed to have been coerced.

Historically, Iran has targeted those who dissent, including journalists and artists, leading to numerous imprisonments for individuals who oppose the government’s stringent policies on women and activists. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the crackdown on dissent may have softened following the ascendancy of president Masoud Pezeshkian in July.

Investigators from the United Nations hold the Iranian government accountable for Amini’s death and characterize the regime’s response to the protests as violently repressive, resulting in over 500 fatalities and the detention of more than 22,000 individuals during this tumultuous period.