Iranian pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, widely known as Tataloo, has reportedly been sentenced to death by an Iranian court following a conviction for blasphemy. The decision, announced on Sunday, comes after the country’s Supreme Court upheld an appeal to revise his earlier five-year prison sentence.
According to the reformist newspaper Etemad, the court reopened Tataloo’s case and imposed the death penalty, accusing the 37-year-old musician of “insulting the prophet” Muhammad. However, the ruling is not final and can still be appealed.
Tataloo, a popular yet controversial figure in Iran’s underground music scene, was extradited from Istanbul in December 2023 after living in Turkey since 2018. He has been in detention in Iran since his deportation.
Beyond the blasphemy charges, Tataloo has faced multiple legal cases in Iran, including a 10-year sentence for promoting prostitution and additional accusations of spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic and publishing obscene content.
The singer, known for his heavily tattooed appearance and a musical style blending rap, pop, and R&B, was previously a surprising ally of conservative Iranian politicians. In 2017, he notably appeared on television alongside ultra-conservative figures, including then-presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi, who later died in a helicopter crash.
Despite his run-ins with Iranian authorities, Tataloo’s music has resonated with many young, liberal-minded Iranians. He also made headlines in 2015 with a controversial song supporting Iran’s nuclear program, which was dismantled in 2018 under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
The case has sparked significant public attention, with critics pointing to the broader crackdown on freedom of expression in Iran.
