two dissidents freed, a rapper faces the death penalty

With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi

First of all, the international footballer Voria Ghafouri, of Kurdish origin, who had denounced the repression in Kurdistan, was released on bail. He had also supported the protest movement.

Similarly, the authorities released an opposition activist, Hossein Ronaghi, who was hospitalized. A photo of him showing him in the hospital bed, with his mother by his side, has been published.

These two releases occur in a particular context. Indeed, after the national team victory football against Wales, and two days before the meeting with the United States, it is a way for the power to make a gesture of appeasement.

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Already six people sentenced to death

But at the same time, rapper Toomaj Salehi has been accused of propaganda against the regime and acting against national security. He faces the death penalty. Prior to his arrest, he posted a video with a song and a statement clearly calling for the overthrow of the Islamic regime.

Six protesters have been sentenced to death so far for violent actions during protests over the past eleven weeks.

Finally, the media announced that the manager of a bank in the holy city of Qom had been removed from his post for having provided services to an unveiled woman, which is prohibited in Iran.

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