His face and his body are a painting canvas, his political texts, and his fight for freedom of expression could well cost him his life. This is the story of Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, better known as Amir Tataloo. The first Iranian artist signed by Universal Music Group, this singer is much more than a simple rapper admired by Iranian youth. He has become the enemy of the Islamic Republic, which accuses him of inciting young people to oppose the government and promoting prostitution.
These accusations led to several arrests and, ultimately, a death sentence for “blasphemy”. A look back at the journey of this extraordinary artist, at the heart of an authoritarian regime.
An artist we want to silence
Banned from radio, television or any official broadcast in Iran, Amir Tataloo has never been accepted by the authorities of his country. Rejected by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the 37-year-old artist nevertheless managed to carve out a special place in the hearts of Iranian youth thanks to his music mixing hip-hop, RnB and pop. A pioneer of these underground genres, he was able to captivate a generation in search of change. Its title Nuclear Energyaccompanied by a clip supporting Iran’s nuclear program, even became one of the most popular Google searches in Persian. Addressing both political and light subjects, this head-to-toe tattooed artist has always disturbed those in power and has never obtained a license to practice his profession in his own country.
Born in Majidieh, Tehran, Amir Tataloo went into exile in Istanbul in 2018, thinking of escaping repression. But in 2023, he was arrested by Turkish police and extradited to Iran, where he was accused of “spreading corruption and prostitution”. Having become the target of a regime determined to silence his voice, Tataloo had nevertheless been – for a time – courted by conservative politicians as a means of connecting with liberal youth. In March 2024, during his last trial, he was finally sentenced to prison.
-Enemy of the Islamic Republic
Accused on several occasions of “encouraging the younger generation to prostitution”, “making propaganda against” the Islamic Republic and “disseminating obscene content in the form of clips and songs”, Amir Tataloo is not at his best. first trial. But it was the accusation of “insulting the prophet” Mohammed which earned him a death sentence, pronounced on Sunday January 19, 2025, according to the newspaper Advancesone of the few reformist and independent media outlets still active in Iran.
However, this judgment is not final and could be appealed. A scenario already experienced by Toomaj Salehi, another Iranian rapper who, after more than a year and a half in detention, escaped the death penalty to which he had been sentenced for having supported the 2022 protest movement. “The real death is that of resigning oneself to despair,” wrote Toomaj Salehi in his texts, a message with which Amir Tataloo can identify, probably hoping for an outcome similar to that of his colleague.
