Iranian Court Sentences Popular Singer Tataloo to Death for Blasphemy
The 37-year-old musician had been living in Istanbul since 2018 to evade legal troubles in Iran and was extradited back in Dec 2023

An Iranian court has sentenced popular singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, to death following an appeal that overturned a previous five-year prison sentence for blasphemy.
This decision was made by Iran’s Supreme Court after accepting the prosecutor’s objection to the earlier ruling, as reported by various local media sources on January 20, 2025.
Tataloo was convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, which led to the death sentence. He also faced a 10-year sentence for promoting “prostitution” and had been charged with disseminating “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content”,
The 37-year-old musician had been living in Istanbul since 2018 to evade legal troubles in Iran. He was extradited back to Iran by Turkish authorities in December 2023 and has been in detention since then.
The verdict is not final and can still be appealed, leaving room for further legal proceedings. The Iranian judiciary has stated that Tataloo’s case is subject to potential leniency under restorative justice provisions, indicating that the situation may still evolve.
Tataloo is known for his unique blend of rap, pop, and R&B music and has previously engaged with conservative politicians in Iran to connect with younger audiences. His controversial image includes a televised meeting with former President Ebrahim Raisi in 2017 and a song supporting Iran’s nuclear program released in 2015.