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Hearing Session Of Iranian Dissident Rapper Held In Esfahan

Iran International: The court session of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, arrested for support of the nationwide uprising, was held in Esfahan (Isfahan) on Sunday, July 2.

The 33-year-old rapper, violently arrested in late October, faces the death penalty for charges of 'corruption on earth'.

Toomaj salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, said the court session was held behind closed doors and that the verdict will be announced within one week, explaining that he objected to six issues in Toomaj’s case, but the court only accepted one.

The rapper - an artist mostly known for his protest songs about Iran's social issues and injustice by the government - is accused of dissemination of lies through publishing tweets which is considered as an example of corruption of earth, a loose regime term to suppress opposition.

His interview with Canada’s CBC in which he called the regime a mafia "ready to kill the entire nation ... in order to keep its power, money and weapons", is also considered “cooperation with a hostile state”, as Canada is seen by Isfahan court as a hostile government.

His other charges are insulting the founder of Islamic Revolution Ruhollah Khomeini and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Raisian also stated that the court gave him only half an hour of time to defend his client who has been in prison in the last eight months.