Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – The final trial of tattoo-covered Iranian musician Amir Tataloo took place on Tuesday in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.
Tataloo faces allegations including producing, sending, distributing, and publishing “obscene” works, such as clips, songs, and images containing vulgar and explicit content.
Other accusations include “establishing a gambling operation, inciting individuals to access obscene content, encouraging crimes against chastity and sexual perversions, and promoting corruption and prostitution.”
According to the Media Center of the Judiciary, Tataloo’s lawyer argued that “enemy governments” targeted the singer’s online activity.
Tataloo himself claimed his Instagram page was closed for featuring content promoting “child abuse” as defined by European law.
“In an Instagram story, females aged between 15 and 20 were encouraged to create a video for one of the songs. However, this action was deemed as child abuse under European law, leading to the closure of the page,” he told the court.
However, reports indicate the closure stemmed from “immoral content” involving underage girls.
The judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency previously reported “numerous complaints” against Tataloo, including from teenagers and their families.
Court documents mentioned a letter of remorse written by Tataloo, expressing his desire to marry, have children, and pursue music “in the right way.”
He reportedly took responsibility for his actions, stating, “Many of my behaviors have been wrong. I apologize for my mistakes. I didn’t get proper training and I made a mistake.”
The musician’s lawyer further argued that his client lacked criminal intent and did not aim to disrupt national security.
On December 4 last year, Iranian media reported that the Turkish police arrested Tataloo, whose real name is Amirhossein Maghsoudloo, following a complaint from the Iranian consulate in Istanbul accusing him of harassing members and staff.
He was subsequently handed over to the Iranian police.
The tattooed rapper gained notoriety for criticizing the Iranian government’s human rights record in his songs and on social media.
However, Tataloo later adopted a conservative stance and urged his fans to vote for hardliners in the 2017 presidential elections.
His most famous single, ‘Nuclear Energy,’ released before the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, asserted Iran’s right to self-defense
The accompanying music video, shot on a warship in the Persian Gulf, fueled speculation that the Iranian establishment had co-opted him.
Instagram blocked Tataloo’s account in 2019 for anti-women content and for promoting child marriage. In his Instagram stories, Tataloo claimed he planned to establish a “Sultan’s Palace” in Türkiye and invite girls between 15 and 20 to join.
