Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death by an Iranian revolutionary court over songs that criticized the Iranian government, according to his lawyer and state media.

Tehran

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death for his music that criticized the Iranian government, as confirmed by his lawyer and state media reports. Salehi, 32, is known for his opposition against the Iranian establishment through his songs, echoing the sentiments of the protest movement sparked by the death of Massa Amini. He has a significant following both within Iran and internationally.

Salehi’s songs have been deemed a threat by the Iranian regime, leading to his arrest and subsequent sentencing by a court in Isfahan for "corruption on earth." The charges come after Salehi openly supported protests against the government and shared his experiences of being tortured during his detention in 2022. His account of the cruel treatment includes being beaten and having his fingers broken.

Salehi's sentencing has drawn criticism from human rights observers and his own legal representation, with one of his lawyers, based in France, describing the death penalty for his expressions as "barbaric" and indicative of the Iranian justice system's political motivations. This comes amidst reports that 853 Iranians were executed last year, marking the highest number since 2015. Despite the risks, the protest movement in Iran continues, with actions such as the removal of headscarves and the organization of gatherings to resist systemic oppression. There is still an opportunity for Salehi to appeal the death sentence. Meanwhile, his supporters worldwide are calling for international intervention to prevent his execution.



Iranian Rapper Sentenced to Death Over Music Criticising Government

His lyrics are perceived as a threat by the Iranian regime. Rapper Tumaj Salehi has millions of fans in and outside Iran, but a court in Isfahan has sentenced him to death for corruption on earth. The 32-year-old uses his songs to speak out against the establishment. From the start of the protest movement after the death of Massa Amini, Salehi has supported the demonstrations. Arrested and jailed in 2022, he dared to speak out on the conditions of his detention after his release. I was tortured for a long time during my detention. They would hit my hands, my feet. When I tried to protect myself with my hands, they'd break my fingers. It's that testimony that could now cost him his life. One of his lawyers, based in France, says the death sentence is a sign of the regime's fragility. The Iranian justice system is doing everything in its power to convict opponents, so it's really a political justice system. But when it comes to Tumaj, it's really taking extraordinary proportions, because sentencing someone to death for a few words is something that could be described as barbaric. 853 Iranians were executed last year, the highest number since 2015. Today, the protest movement lives on, but more discreetly. Iran continue to remove their headscarves and organise gatherings, a non-violent way of resisting oppression. The protest movement may be less spectacular, but it's just as courageous and dangerous and it's spread across all layers and generations of Iranian society. Salehi can still appeal against the issuing of his death sentence, but in the meantime, his fans are calling for international mobilisation to save him.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv in an unannounced diplomatic mission to reassure Ukraine that it has American support as it struggles to defend against increasingly intense Russian attacks.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Blinken visits Ukraine in show of U.S. support

The New South Wales State Government has announced tougher bail laws for domestic violence accused persons, including electronic monitoring. The reforms follow the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes last month, after her accused killer breached bail.

Council of the City of Sydney

NSW announces tougher bail laws for domestic offenders

The Federal Government will announce the budget in a few hours. Cost of living is said to be the key focus, along with energy rebates for Australian households and Commonwealth rent assistance. However Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says Australian households have already shown great restraint. Inflation is also a concern.

Canberra

Budget forecast ahead of announcement

Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen takes the stand as a key prosecution witness at the former president's hush money trial. His testimony links the former president to alleged falsifying of business records to cover up payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model, in the 2016 campaign.

New York

Ex- Trump fixer Michael Cohen takes stand at hush money trial

Israel's Memorial Day is typically sombre, but today angry protests over the government's handling of the war disrupted several events. The war itself is getting worse for Palestinians in Gaza as hundreds of thousands have fled the city they were already taking refuge in and still more are trapped amid intensifying fighting.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Protests, fighting in Gaza mark Israel's Memorial Day

The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah.

Jerusalem

UN urges reopening of aid lines as exodus from Rafah continues

More than a dozen student volunteers from Albury, Victoria are stranded in Vanuatu after the country's airline went into liquidation. The group having to arrange their own charter flight back to Australia after Qantas were unresponsive.

Tanna

Air Vanuatu collapse leaves teenage volunteers stranded

Australians are feeling the financial pinch, making significant cuts to their spending habits according to a report by the Commonwealth Bank. Analysis of expenditure revealed a reduction in purchases at supermarkets, liquor stores and butchers.

Aussies slash spending, according to new survey

Thousands of people been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with Moscow's troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.

Kharkiv

Thousands evacuated from Kharkiv after surprise Russian offensive

The Federal Government says tomorrow's budget is designed to provide cost-of-living relief without worsening inflation. The Treasurer expected to deliver policies that ease the housing shortage, plus wage stagnation.

Budget won't impact inflation, Government says

Three people have walked away unhurt after a light plane made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport. The aircraft touching down on its belly after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear failed this morning

Newcastle

Pilot makes successful 'wheels up' emergency landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defense minister in an attempt to better integrate Russia's military spending into the country's overall economy, and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.

Moscow

Putin taps economist to run defense, replacing Shoigu

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Afghanistan have killed at least 315 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise. Al Jazeera spoke to displaced residents in Baghlan, one of the hardest hit areas.

Baghlan

Hundreds killed in Afghanistan flash floods

As attacks on Rafah continue, the U.S. secretary of state criticises Israel’s war planning for not doing enough to protect civilians or stopping Hamas.

Rafah

Israel intensifies Rafah attacks as U.S. ups criticism

Weather has delayed the planned controlled explosion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which is necessary to free a ship that has been trapped for weeks.

Baltimore

Baltimore bridge demolition delayed by weather

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over Alberta and in British Columbia as out-of-control fires raged across Western Canada. The federal government warned of another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures.

Fort St. John

Canada blazes trigger evacuation orders

Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza. The UN says more than 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Monday, after Israel warned people to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Nowhere to go in Gaza as Israel prepares final assault

Parts of New South Wales have been hit with up to 200 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, seeing roads giving way. Severe weather warnings remain in parts of the state, mainly the south coast. However the weather bureau is promising clearer skies this week.

Bondi Beach

Torrential rain continues throughout New South Wales

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Georgia’s capital against a proposed law many say will silence dissent. There are fears the legislation could cost Georgia its bid to join the EU.

Tbilisi

Anger across Georgia over Kremlin-inspired laws

Our planet is experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating stunning colours in the night sky known as auroras. It's an event which experts warn could trigger power and communication blackouts.

Gothenburg

Stunning night skies across the globe amid solar storm

Switzerland has won the 2024 Eurovision song contest in an event marred by protests over Israel's participation. Thousands protesting outside the venue in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Malmö

Switzerland wins a Eurovision overshadowed by Gaza war

Rescue workers are braving torrential rain while searching for survivors after last week's devastating floods that killed 136 people in southern Brazil. Thousands have evacuated their homes but many in poor areas remain stranded.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

Torrential rain hampers Brazil flood rescue efforts

Israel's closest ally and biggest arms supplier, the United States, says Israel's use of American weapons likely breached international law in Gaza. The long-awaited report by the Biden administration to Congress issues a rare criticism to Israel.

Washington

U.S. report finds possible rights violations in Gaza

The biggest geomagnetic storm in two decades resulted in dazzling lights displays across large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend. Curtains of green, pink and purple lights could be seen in skies around the world.

Riex

Solar storm causes rare northern lights display

It’s been two years since Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Despite a U.S. Government backed investigation that found she was shot by an Israeli sniper, no charges have been filed.

Two years on, no justice for slain Al Jazeera journalist

Israel called for Palestinians in more areas of Gaza's southern city of Rafah to evacuate and head to what it calls an expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, in a further indication that the military is pressing ahead with its plans for a ground attack on Rafah.

Israel calls on Rafah residents to evacuate ahead of assault

Russian forces have captured five villages as part of a renewed ground assault in Ukraine’s northeast, the country’s Defence Ministry said. 

Ukrainian journalists reported that Russian troops took the villages of Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pylna and Strilecha, all of which lie in a militarily contested “grey zone” on the border of Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Russia.

Russia claims capture of five villages in northeast Ukraine

A report by the Biden administration on whether Israel’s use of U.S. supplied weapons violated international humanitarian law is “self-contradictory” and full of gaps two former State Department officials told Reuters.

Critical U.S. report on Israel arms use 'self-contradictory'

Kylian Mbappe has confirmed he will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. The Frenchman, who is out of contract this summer, is expected to join Real Madrid. The 25-year-old officially announced his PSG exit after it was revealed in February he would be leaving the French champions.

Paris

Kylian Mbappe confirms Paris Saint-Germain exit at end of season

The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth, triggering spectacular celestial light shows in skies from Tasmania to Britain — and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.