Iranian Court Sentences Popular Singer to Death for Blasphemy

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An Iranian court has sentenced Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, a popular singer better known as Tataloo, to death after he was convicted of blasphemy. The ruling follows an appeal that overturned a previous five-year prison sentence. Local media reported that the Supreme Court accepted a prosecutor's objection to Tataloo's earlier sentence, leading to the reopening of the case and the new death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The 37-year-old singer has been in detention in Iran since being extradited from Turkey in December 2023. Prior to his detention, Tataloo had lived in Istanbul since 2018. He has faced multiple legal challenges, including a ten-year sentence for promoting "prostitution" and various charges related to disseminating "propaganda" against the Iranian government and producing "obscene content."

Tataloo is known for his unique blend of rap, pop, and R&B music and had previously engaged with conservative politicians to appeal to younger, liberal audiences in Iran. His controversial career included a televised meeting with former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in 2017. The latest verdict is not final and may still be appealed.

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