Iranian who rapped about protests over hijab is back in jail

DUBAI: Iran sent a popular rapper back to jail less that two weeks after his release from prison on bail, an Iranian news website reported on Thursday. Mizanonline.ir, an online news outlet affiliated with Iran's judiciary, said Toomaj Salehi was arrested on a new charge of "spreading lies and violation of public opinion".

Salehi was released from prison in mid-November after spending more than a year in custody on charges that his supporters said were based on the hip-hop artist's music and participation in the protests that broke out in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini.

Earlier this week, Salehi said in a video message that he was tortured after his arrest in Oct 2022, when state media released a video showing him blindfolded and apologizing for his words, a statement likely made under duress.