Day 38 and 39, Toomaj Salehi, Mehrshad Shahidi, Emad Ghavidel

Mehrshad Shahidi

The Islamic Republic merceries are still murdering people. If I want to measure their violence and compare their cruelty, I would say maybe the Rwanda genocide or what Hitler and Stalin did.

His name is #MehrshadShahidi, a talented chef in Arak, Iran. He was just 19 when he was killed due to multiple baton blows by security forces. He was full of life & believed in “perseverance” to succeed. The killing machine of the regime should stop! #مهسا_امینی #MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/MFnBj2DIxu

— Omid Memarian (@Omid_M) October 28, 2022

Another handsome young guy, Mehrshad Shahidi, is a master chef and a student. He was only 19, killed by the Islamic Republic in Arak (Iran).

Toomaj Salehi

On November 7, 2022, Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper, was arrested. Still, we have no news from him, and his life is in danger. He was one of the supporters of the current wave of antigovernment protests across Iran.He is so brave. He told the administrator of his pages on Twitter and Instagram to continue without him.Khamenei merceries published a photo of him arrested and wearing a blindfold to demoralize people.

Security forces have arrested several musicians and artists, including two other rappers who were involved in protests – Emad Ghavidel from Rasht and Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin from Kermanshah.Ghavidel was released on bond and described in an Instagram post how he was tortured and had his teeth smashed. Yasin was subjected to severe mental and physical torture during his time in custody, according to Norway-based Kurdish human rights group Hengaw. He was charged with a crime that can carry a death sentence in a sham trial.

"Toomaj's mother was a political prisoner," Salehi's uncle, who lives in Germany, told CNN. "She passed away a long time ago…if my sister were still alive, she would become Toomaj's voice. The same as I am Toomaj's voice. The same as many who are on the streets [in Iran] is the voice of Toomaj."

Since the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, protesters across Iran have coalesced around various grievances with the regime. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have been stepping up efforts to end the uprising. Around 1,000 people have been charged in the Tehran province for their alleged involvement in the protests, state news agency IRNA reported last week.