Campaign Free Toomaj, Free Saman!
Press release of December 13, 2022: We call on the German federal government to do everything possible to save the lives of Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin: »waging war against God« (moharebeh) and »corruption on earth« (ifsad fil-arz) are charges for which people should no longer be allowed to die in the 21st century. As rappers, the two artists work with the word. Because of their free word, their lives are under threat. They are our colleagues. Now they are honorary members of PEN Berlin – harming Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin would be an unforgivable crime. Mullahs don’t you dare! MORE
Press Statements by PEN Berlin [Eng]
Solidarity from German musicians and writers [Eng/Ger]
Rapfugees »We urgently call on the German federal government«
Fettes Brot: »There are few things that impress us so much«
Lena Stoehrfaktor: »My solidarity go out to two rap colleagues of me«
Dirk von Lowtzow: »Their art is the free word«
Sookee: »It feels pretty unreal«
Namusoke: »It moves me when young men stand up for women’s rights«
Thorsten Nagelschmidt: »The death sentence against Toomaj Salehi outrages me«
Tigrrez Punch: »The revolution in Iran moves me«
Deniz Utlu: »What we know and what we see makes us responsible«
Pacifico Boy: »For telling the truth«
Michel Abdollahi: »The brutality is shocking«
Further Press Statements by PEN Berlin
Press release of December 3, 2023
Release our honorary member Toomaj Salehi
The Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi was beaten by armed police on the streets of Tehran on 30 November and taken to an unknown location. He had previously posted a video on social media describing the torture he had been subjected to during his last eleven months in prison.(…) Deniz Yücel said: »While the world focuses on Israel and Gaza, the Islamist dictatorship is executing more and more opponents of the regime«. MORE
Press release of April 25, 2024
Free Toomaj Salehi!
Rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death: PEN Berlin joins the call of Ye-One Rhie, a member of Bundestag who has taken on a »political sponsorship» for Salehi. »Mullahs of Iran, revoke the death penalty for Salehi and drop the charges! And finally stop torturing people. Grant freedom of expression. The more you try to brutally suppress the critical words of your citizens, the louder we hear them«, said PEN Berlin spokesperson Deniz Yücel. MORE