An Iranian court has handed a death sentence to Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, better known as the pop star Tataloo, following an appeal that overturned a previous five-year prison term for blasphemy. Reports from Iranian media indicated that the Guardian, among others, confirmed the verdict, stating that the Supreme Court accepted a prosecutor's objection to the former sentence. The newspaper Etemad revealed that “the case was reopened, and this time the defendant was sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.” This verdict is not yet final and is still subject to further appeal.

The controversial singer, aged 37, has remained in detention since being extradited from Turkey in December 2023, where he had been residing since 2018. His legal troubles extend beyond blasphemy; Tataloo faced a prior sentence of ten years for promoting “prostitution” and has been charged with spreading anti-regime propaganda and publishing "obscene content."

Tataloo, renowned for fusing rap, pop, and R&B genres, has previously engaged with various Iranian political figures. Notably, he attended a televised meeting with then-President Ebrahim Raisi in 2017. He gained attention in 2015 for a song supporting Iran's nuclear program, which was compromised following the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 during Donald Trump's presidency.

The news of his death sentence comes amidst an alarming trend in Iran, where at least 901 executions were reported in 2024, marking the highest level in nearly a decade. This increase drew international concern, with UN human rights chief Volker Turk labeling it "deeply disturbing" and urging Iran to address the soaring number of executions.

Responses from the Iranian judiciary have created uncertainty around Tataloo's case, as they have denied reports regarding the death sentence, suggesting that no final verdict has been issued. As such, the situation remains fluid, with further developments anticipated in the coming days. More information can be found in articles from The Independent and India Times.