Latest news with #Tataloo
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Is Amir Tataloo, Iran's Tattooed Rap Star Now Facing Death Sentence
New Delhi: Iran's Supreme Court has sentenced renowned pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, popularly known as Tataloo, to death after he was convicted of blasphemy, including insulting the Prophet Mohammed. Earlier, he was handed a five-year prison sentence on similar charges; however, the case was later reopened following a prosecutor's objection. After the review, the court overturned the previous ruling and issued the death penalty in January this year. Who Is Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, aka Tataloo? He was born on September 21, 1987, in Tehran, Iran. Due to his family's financial condition, he started working as a carpenter when he was 14 while continuing his studies. During high school, between 16 and 18, he was employed at a grocery store. After completing his studies, he decided to follow his passion and began pursuing a career in music. His first single, which he released in 2003, marked the beginning of his career as an underground musician. He recorded the song Manam Yeki az un Yazdahtam (I'm Also One of Those Eleven Players) for the Iranian National Football Team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He is well-known for his distinctive fusion of pop, R&B, and rap. He then released the pro-Iranian nuclear song Energy Hastei during the July 2015 Iran/5+1 nuclear talks in Vienna. The Iranian navy ship Damavand served as the production location for the song video. The song topped the Persian trending Google search. This song immediately caused controversy in Iran, mostly among Iranian Reformists who compared this song to Mohammadreza Shajarian's songs in support of the 2009 Iranian protests. In 2016, he was arrested by the Iranian police, reportedly for promoting lyrics and a lifestyle that were seen as violating Islamic rules. In 2018, he moved to Turkey, where he created albums and organised big concerts. In 2020, he was under the spotlight again when he said that children under the age of 16 should be allowed to get married. His first album, Zire Hamkaf, was released in 2021. Since then, he has put out 21 albums. He is the first Iranian to collaborate with Universal Music Group. He was handed over to Iran by Turkish authorities in 2023 and given a 10-year prison sentence for encouraging prostitution. He was also charged with disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic and spreading obscene content. He was given the death penalty in May after being found guilty of blasphemy in January.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Who is Iranian rapper Tataloo, a former President Ebrahim Raisi endorser who now faces death sentence
Iranian singer-cum-rapper Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, popularly known as Tataloo, is facing death sentence after being convicted on charges of blasphemy and 'insulting Islamic sanctities'. Tataloo, who once supported a hard-line Iranian presidential candidate, now stands out against the gray prison uniform. The court sentenced him to the death penalty in May after he was found guilty of blasphemy in January this year. The 37-year-old rapper's songs reverberated with the Islamic Republic's youth at a time when the opposition to the country's government was splintered and largely remained leaderless. His music became popular as it challenged Iran's theocracy and the hierarchy of the system. In a major turn of events in 2022, the Iranian rapper's lyrics became more political after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini and the subsequent wave of nationwide protests. Amini was detained and died in state custody of Iran in relation to state-imposed religious dress in September 2022. Tataloo also appeared in videos that criticised the government. Tataloo started his music career in 2003. He is known for combining rap, pop, rhythm-and-blues and rock with Farsi lyrics. He comes from the underground genre and released his first album in 2011 which reportedly polarized the audiences. However, Tataloo never played publicly in Iran, where all the concerts are controlled by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Tataloo appeared in a 2015 music video which supported Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the controversial nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, which has concerned the West for years that it could lead to Iran developing atom bombs. In the video for 'Energy Hasteei,' or 'Nuclear Energy,' Tataloo sang 'This is our absolute right: To have an armed Persian Gulf.' He endorsed hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi in 2017 and sat with him for a television appearance as part of Raisi's failed presidential campaign against Hassan Rouhani. Raisi later became the president in 2021 but was killed in a helicopter crash in 2024. Tataloo faced legal issues in Iran in 2018 and was allowed to leave the country for Turkey, where many Persian singers and artists performed lucrative stage concerts. T he singer started hosting several live video sessions on social media and became an instant rage among the youth, along with his tattoos covering his face and body. Among the tattoos he boasted, one was an Iranian flag and another image of his mother next to a key and heart. In 2020, Instagram deactivated his account after he called for underage girls to join his 'team' for sex. The Iranian singer even acknowledged taking drugs. Tataloo's long run in music came to a halt in late 2023 when his passport expired and he was deported from Turkey. Upon his arrival in Iran, the singer was immediately taken into custody. The Iranian Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in May this year.
News18
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Amir Tataloo? Iranian Pop Star Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy
Last Updated: Iran's Supreme Court sentenced singer Amir Tataloo to death for blasphemy. Tataloo was jailed, moved to Turkey in 2018, arrested in 2023, and extradited. Iran's Supreme Court has handed down a death sentence to popular Iranian singer Amir Tataloo, born Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, after convicting him of blasphemy, including insulting the Prophet Mohammed. Tataloo was earlier handed a five-year prison sentence on similar charges; however, the case was later reopened following a prosecutor's objection. After the review, the court overturned the previous ruling and issued the death penalty in January this year. Iranian singer Amir Tataloo Amir Tataloo was born on September 21, 1987, in Tehran's Majidieh neighbourhood. Due to his family's financial struggles, he balanced work and studies from a young age. At 14, he worked in a carpentry workshop and later, between 16 and 18, he was employed at a grocery store. After completing his studies, Tataloo pursued his passion for music, starting his career as an underground musician in Iran. He released his debut album 'Zire Hamkaf" in 2011 and went on to become one of Iran's most popular and controversial artists, known for blending pop, R&B, and rap. His first single, which he released in 2003, marked the beginning of his career as an underground musician. He recorded the song Manam Yeki az un Yazdahtam (I'm Also One of Those Eleven Players) for the Iranian National Football Team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Tataloo released 'Energy Hastei," a song supporting Iran's nuclear program, during the July 2015 Iran/5+1 nuclear talks in Vienna. The music video was filmed on the Iranian navy ship Damavand, and it topped Google's Persian trending searches. The song sparked controversy, particularly among Iranian Reformists, who drew comparisons to Mohammadreza Shajarian's songs backing the 2009 Iranian protests. He was arrested by the Iranian police in 2016, reportedly for promoting lyrics and a lifestyle that were seen as violating Islamic rules. In 2018, he moved to Turkey, where he created albums and organised big concerts. In 2020, he was under the spotlight again when he said that children under the age of 16 should be allowed to get married. Amir Tataloo relocated to Turkey in 2018. There, he continued to produce music, releasing albums and staging large concerts. However, his presence in Turkey wasn't without controversy. In 2020, Tataloo sparked outrage with his comments on social media, suggesting that children under 16 should be allowed to get married, which drew widespread criticism. Later, in 2023, Turkish authorities arrested him due to an expired passport and handed him over to Iranian authorities, who jailed him on charges including corruption. His first album, Zire Hamkaf, was released in 2021. Since then, he has put out 21 albums. He is the first Iranian to collaborate with Universal Music Group. He was given a 10-year prison sentence for encouraging prostitution. He was also charged with disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic and spreading obscene content. Later in May, he was given the death penalty after being found guilty of blasphemy in January. First Published: June 09, 2025, 12:55 IST
Toronto Star
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Iranian rapper Tataloo once supported a hard-line presidential candidate. Now he faces execution
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The tattoos covering Iranian rapper Tataloo's face stand out against the gray prison uniform the 37-year-old now wears as he awaits execution, his own rise and fall tracing the chaos of the last decade of Iranian politics. Tataloo, whose full name is Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, faces a death sentence after being convicted on charges of 'insulting Islamic sanctities.' It's a far cry from when he once supported a hard-line Iranian presidential candidate.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Iranian rapper Tataloo once supported a hard-line presidential candidate. Now he faces execution
Iranian rapper Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, also known as Tataloo, sits at a courtroom at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Iran, May 7, 2024. (Tahmineh Rahmani/Mizan News Agency via AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The tattoos covering Iranian rapper Tataloo's face stand out against the gray prison uniform the 37-year-old now wears as he awaits execution, his own rise and fall tracing the chaos of the last decade of Iranian politics. Tataloo, whose full name is Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, faces a death sentence after being convicted on charges of 'insulting Islamic sanctities.' It's a far cry from when he once supported a hard-line Iranian presidential candidate. Tataloo's music became popular among the Islamic Republic's youth, as it challenged Iran's theocracy at a time when opposition to the country's government was splintered and largely leaderless. The rapper's lyrics became increasingly political after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent wave of nationwide protests. He also appeared in music videos which criticized the authorities. 'When you show your face in a music video, you are saying, 'Hey, I'm here, and I don't care about your restrictions,'' said Ali Hamedani, a former BBC journalist who interviewed the rapper in 2005. 'That was brave.' The Iranian Supreme Court last month upheld his death sentence. 'This ruling has now been confirmed and is ready for execution,' judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters at a press conference last month. Activists have decried his looming execution and expressed concern for his safety after he reportedly tried to kill himself in prison. From a music video on a warship to exile Tataloo began his music career in 2003 as part of an underground genre of Iranian music that combines Western styles of rap, rhythm-and-blues and rock with Farsi lyrics. His first album, released in 2011, polarized audiences, though he never played publicly in Iran, where its Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance controls all concerts. Tataloo appeared in a 2015 music video backing Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and Tehran's nuclear program, which long has been targeted by the West over fears it could allow the Islamic Republic to develop an atomic bomb. While he never discussed the motivation behind this, it appeared that the rapper had hoped to win favor with the theocracy or perhaps have a travel ban against him lifted. In the video for 'Energy Hasteei,' or 'Nuclear Energy,' Tataloo sings a power ballad in front of rifle-wielding guardsmen and later aboard the Iranian frigate Damavand in the Caspian Sea. The ship later sank during a storm in 2018. 'This is our absolute right: To have an armed Persian Gulf,' Tataloo sang. Tataloo even issued an endorsement for hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi in 2017. That year, the two sat for a televised appearance as part of Raisi's failed presidential campaign against the relative moderate Hassan Rouhani. Raisi later won the presidency in 2021, but was killed in a helicopter crash in 2024. Fame in Turkey, prison back in Iran In 2018, Tataloo — who faced legal problems in Iran — was allowed to leave the country for Turkey, where many Persian singers and performers stage lucrative concerts. Tataloo hosted live video sessions as he rose to fame on social media, where he became well-known for his tattoos covering his face and body. Among them are an Iranian flag and an image of his mother next to a key and heart. Instagram deactivated his account in 2020 after he called for underage girls to join his 'team' for sex. He also acknowledged taking drugs. 'Despite being a controversial rapper, Tataloo has quite the fanbase in Iran, known as 'Tatalities,'' said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy. 'Over the years, they've flooded social media with messages of solidarity for him and even campaigned for the rapper's release in the past when he was detained on separate charges.' Tataloo's rebellious music struck a chord with disenfranchised young people in Iran as they struggled to find work, get married and start their adult lives. He also increasingly challenged Iran's theocracy in his lyrics, particularly after the death of Amini following her arrest over allegedly not wearing the hijab to the liking of authorities. His collaboration 'Enghelab Solh' — 'Peace Revolution' in Farsi — called out Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by name. 'We don't want tear gas, because there are tears in everyone's eyes,' he rapped. But the music stopped for Tataloo in late 2023. He was deported from Turkey after his passport had expired, and was immediately taken into custody upon arrival to Iran. Death sentence draws protests Tehran's Criminal Court initially handed Tataloo a five-year sentence for blasphemy. Iran's Supreme Court threw out the decision and sent his case to another court, which sentenced him to death in January. The rapper already faced ten years in prison for a string of separate convictions, including promoting prostitution and moral corruption. 'Tataloo is at serious risk of execution,' Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of advocacy group Iran Human Rights, said in a statement. 'The international community, artists and the public must act to stop his execution.' Tataloo earlier expressed remorse at a trial. 'I have certainly made mistakes, and many of my actions were wrong,' he said, according to the state-owned Jam-e Jam daily newspaper. 'I apologize for the mistakes I made.' Tataloo married while on death row, his uncle said. Last month, Tataloo reportedly attempted to kill himself, but survived. His death sentence comes at a politically fraught moment for Iran as the country is at it's 'most isolated,' said Abbas Milani, an Iran expert at Stanford University. The Islamic Republic is 'desperately trying to see whether it can arrive at a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program and have the sanctions lifted,' he said. Drawing the ire of Tataloo's fans is 'one headache they don't need,' he added. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Vienna and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. Gabe Levin, The Associated Press -------------------- If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available. Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline (Call or text 988) Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645) Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) Hope for Wellness Helpline (1-855-242-3310) for Indigenous people across Canada If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital
