TEHRAN: Iran’s Sup­reme Court upheld a death sentence handed down against pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsou­dloo, known as Tataloo, on blasphemy charges, judiciary spokesman said on Saturday.

Tataloo, who was extradited from Turkiye in Decem­ber 2023, was initially handed a five-year prison sentence for blasphemy by a court in Tehran.

However, the Supreme Court overturned that verdict and referred the case to a different court, which later sentenced him to death.

“This ruling has now been confirmed and is ready for execution,” judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters.

He added that the singer’s lawyer has filed two requests, typically a retrial request and a clemency plea, which are currently under review.

“These requests have been formally registered and are under review,” Jahangir said, adding that a decision would be announced in due course.

Jahangir had first announced the death sentence in January, while noting that the verdict was not final at that time.

The heavily tattooed Iranian singer was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for “promoting corruption and prostitution” and spreading “propaganda” against Tehran.

He is currently serving that sentence.

Tataloo received backing from conservative politicians, including the late president Ebrahim Raisi, who sought to appeal to younger Iranians.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025