Iran’s Supreme Court has sentenced popular underground musician Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known professionally as Tataloo, to death after upgrading his previous five-year prison sentence on blasphemy charges, according to local media reports.
The reformist newspaper Etemad reported Sunday that prosecutors successfully appealed the original prison term, leading to a death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The verdict remains subject to appeal, the paper noted.
The 37-year-old singer, who combines rap, pop, and R&B in his music, was arrested after Turkish authorities handed him over to Iran in December 2023. He had been living in Istanbul since 2018 before his extradition.
Beyond the blasphemy charges, Tataloo faces additional legal challenges in Iran. He has received a separate 10-year sentence for allegedly promoting “prostitution” and faces charges of spreading “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content.”
The heavily tattooed artist’s case reflects the complex relationship between Iran’s entertainment industry and its conservative establishment. Despite his current legal troubles, Tataloo had previously found unlikely allies among conservative politicians who sought to connect with young, liberal-minded Iranians. In 2017, he notably participated in a televised meeting with then-president Ebrahim Raisi, who later died in a helicopter crash.
Tataloo has remained in detention since his return to Iran in late 2023.
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