The statement says: “As artists, musicians, writers and leading cultural figures we stand in solidarity with Toomaj Salehi. We call for his death sentence to be immediately and unconditionally quashed and for him to be released from detention without delay, with all other charges dismissed.
“Art must be allowed to criticize, to provoke, to question and to challenge authority. That is both our right and our duty as artists.”
The statement calling for Salehi’s release, drawn up by the advocacy group Index on Censorship, is supported by Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix, DJ Rob Da Bank, writer Margaret Atwood, and theatre-maker Roshi Nasehi.
GunazTV