Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian protest rapper, along with two other artists, received the Václav Havel Human Rights Award in 2024. This award was given in recognition of their creative efforts to protest oppression and promote human rights.
According to Kolbarnews, the award ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 4, in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Salehi, currently imprisoned, received the award for using his music as a tool for expressing dissent.
Toomaj Salehi was arrested in November of last year during nationwide protests in Iran. The Revolutionary Court of Isfahan has sentenced him to death on charges of “corruption on earth.”
The awarding of the Václav Havel Prize to Toomaj Salehi has sparked widespread reactions from human rights activists and the international community. Many organizations have deemed the sentence unjust and called for Salehi’s immediate release.
The Václav Havel Prize is named after Václav Havel, the former President of the Czech Republic and a renowned writer. It is awarded annually to individuals who courageously and creatively promote human rights and freedom.
