On November 18, Toomaj Salehi walked out of Isfahan Prison holding a bouquet of white roses, after 386 days of detention, of which 252 days were in solitary confinement under horrific conditions of torture and isolation. 

His lawyer, Amir Raesian, told Shargh Daily news that Toomaj was released on bail, pursuant to an appeal of his unjust conviction and sentencing to 6 years in prison, and also that Toomaj should qualify for amnesty (the politically-motivated and limited amnesty offered to thousands of those arrested during protests of the Woman-Life-Freedom uprising in Fall 2022). On Toomaj’s behalf, Amir Raesian was also in the process of filing a suit against the regime for illegal detention on October 30, 2022, torture resulting in a broken leg, finger, fractured ribs, and severe damage to both eyes, and denial of timely treatment for his injuries, including surgery, deemed currently necessary, to correct his broken leg. 

We echo the words of @FreeToomajNow, a social media account of the International Campaign to Free Toomaj Salehi: 

‪#ToomajSalehi, the artist, fighter, and popular figure, is free!

‎Congratulations to dear Toomaj for his resistance; congratulations to his resilient and unwavering family; congratulations to his legal team; and congratulations to the larger Toomaj family, meaning all the fighters and free individuals who worked for his freedom and that of other political prisoners. The struggle continues for the elimination of oppression, discrimination, suppression, and exploitation; the fight continues for the establishment of freedom and equality!

And also those of Toomaj’s Instagram @ToomajOfficial, run by a designated admin:

We will also express our happiness over the end of this cruel captivity, and we will follow up the treatment of the physical injuries inflicted on him. Hoping for the complete and unconditional release of dear Toomaj.

Stay tuned to the IEC website and social media (@IranPrisonEmerg) for more news and analysis of this important turn of events.