Iran: Renowned singer and supporter of the Islamic regime faces blasphemy charges for insulting Muhammad, but is considered "eligible for leniency"

Image: Jihad Watch

On Sunday, Iran's Judiciary rejected a report by state-run media claiming that it had sentenced Amirhossein Maghsoudloo, the well-known and controversial singer Amir Tataloo, to death on charges of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.

The Judiciary clarified that Maghsoudloo "has recently become eligible for leniency under legal provisions," referring to measures in criminal law designed to offer reprieves to convicts in line with restorative justice principles.

The blasphemy charge was overturned and sent to a parallel court after the prosecutor contested the ruling from the Ninth Branch of the Criminal Court.

Tataloo, a 37-year-old underground artist and former supporter of the Islamic Republic, had been living in Istanbul since 2018. He was extradited back to Iran by Turkish authorities in December 2023 and has been held in detention since then.

In 2024, he received multiple prison sentences after being tried on charges such as promoting "prostitution," spreading "propaganda" against the Islamic Republic, and producing "obscene content," among other broad accusations.

Tataloo, recognized for his distinctive tattoos and a blend of rap, pop, and R&B music, had previously gained popularity with conservative politicians seeking to connect with Iran's youthful, progressive audience.

In 2017, he participated in a televised meeting with Ebrahim Raisi, an ultra-conservative figure who later became Iran's president and tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Notably, in 2015, as the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers faced challenges, Tataloo released a song supporting Iran’s nuclear program.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)