Iranian Pop Star Tataloo Faces Death Sentence for Blasphemy

Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo's case, reopened after a prosecutor's appeal, has sparked international attention as the verdict remains subject to appeal.

Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, was sentenced to death by an Iranian court for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a retrial.
The 37-year-old musician had initially been serving a five-year prison sentence for blasphemy before the prosecutor's objection led to a reopened case and harsher ruling.
Iranian judiciary officials clarified that the death sentence is not final and can still be appealed in the Supreme Court.
Tataloo, previously living in Istanbul, was extradited to Iran in December 2023 and has a history of charges, including promoting 'prostitution' and anti-regime propaganda.
The case unfolds as Iran faces scrutiny for its rising execution rates, with 901 reported executions in 2024, the highest in nearly a decade.