Iranian Court Sentences Pop Singer Tataloo To Death Over Blasphemy

An Iranian court has sentenced Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, popularly known as Tataloo, to death after convicting him of blasphemy, local media reported on Sunday.

According to the reformist newspaper Etemad, the Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling that sentenced the underground musician to five years in prison. Etemad stated that “the Supreme Court accepted the prosecutor’s objection” to the previous jail term, leading to the case being reopened.

“This time, the defendant was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet,” the report added, referring to Islam’s Prophet Mohammed. However, the verdict was not final and could still be appealed.

Tataloo, 37, had been living in Istanbul since 2018 but was handed over to Iranian authorities by Turkish police in December 2023. Since then, he has remained in detention in Iran.

In addition to the blasphemy charge, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly promoting “prostitution.” Other charges against him include spreading “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content.”

Known for his fusion of rap, pop, and R&B, Tataloo has long been a controversial figure in Iran. His heavily tattooed appearance and rebellious style made him popular among younger, liberal-minded Iranians, but also drew scrutiny from authorities.

Interestingly, despite his underground status, conservative politicians previously sought to engage with him as a way to connect with Iran’s youth. In 2017, he held a televised meeting with ultra-conservative cleric and then-presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi, who later became Iran’s president before dying in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Tataloo also gained attention in 2015 when he released a song in support of Iran’s nuclear program. However, that program faced setbacks in 2018 after the then-United States President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal.