Two Iranian rappers who expressed support for anti-regime protests are charged with "corruption on earth" and “waging war against god” and could face the death penalty, judicial authorities and human right groups confirmed on Sunday.
Saman Yasin, from Kermanshah province, is charged with “waging war against god” and was under harsh torture for making televised confessions, Kurdistan Human Rights Network warned on November 25.
According to the watchdog, “Yasin was held in a very cold room for three days, he was beaten harshly, and he was thrown down from a height among other kinds of tortures.”
Another rapper Tomaj Salehi is charged with "corruption on earth", according to the judiciary.
The charges against these two rappers are the Islamic Republic's most serious offences.
A US-based rights group had tweeted on Saturday that Toomaj Salehi's trial had begun "without a lawyer of his choice", and his family said his "life is at serious risk".
Iran has sentenced dozens of other Iranians with death penalty amid anti-regime protests.
