The tattooed Iranian pop artist Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, has allegedly been sentenced to death by an Iranian court for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
The artist, who is known for his candid opinions and significant following among the youth in Iran, was reportedly convicted on charges of “sabb al-Nabi,” which pertains to insulting or denying the Prophet Muhammad's status.
Tataloo had previously shown support for President Ibrahim Raisi during the 2017 election and had also voiced his endorsement of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, even releasing a song titled 'Nuclear Energy'.
Despite his political affiliations, Tataloo's appearance and conduct have faced backlash from certain conservative groups, resulting in limitations on his artistic endeavors. Citing the absence of a legitimate concert license, he eventually left Iran for Turkey.
Following his relocation abroad, Tataloo remained in the spotlight for various controversies, including the suspension of his Instagram account due to allegations of misogynistic and violent content, his detention by Turkish authorities for visa infractions while en route to the UK, and accusations of insulting Shia religious figures as well as promoting drug use among the youth. He also attracted attention for his contentious relationship with Iranian actress Sahar Quraysh Shashi and his public endorsement of betting platforms.
Tataloo has persistently denied the allegations against him, emphasizing his entitlement to free artistic expression. However, four years ago, he was apprehended by Turkish police and subsequently deported to Iran, where he faced imprisonment on charges of “encouraging citizens, particularly the youth, to use drugs, especially psychoactive substances, and for spreading corruption.”
His legal challenges persisted when, after receiving a five-year prison sentence, the Tehran prosecutor contested the original ruling. The Supreme Court reviewed the case and ultimately returned it to the Tehran Provincial Criminal Court for further consideration.
Despite his assertions that he did not intend to offend Shiite religious figures and his expression of personal religious beliefs, reports emerged from several Iranian media outlets on Sunday evening indicating that the court had sentenced him to death.
Shortly thereafter, however, the Fars news agency, which has close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, provided clarification, citing an informed source who stated, “Tataloo’s final verdict has not yet been issued. He is currently under legal guardianship.”
According to Iranian law, Tataloo retains the right to appeal this decision, and it is anticipated that his case will undergo further review by the Supreme Court.