Protesters staged a demonstration in central London on Sunday calling for the release of a popular Iranian rapper who was given a death sentence last week.
The protesters wore masks depicting the face of Toomaj Salehi, 33, and erected a mock gallows outside Downing Street on Sunday.
Salehi was condemned to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court "on the charge of corruption on Earth", Iranian media reported on Wednesday, quoting his lawyer.
Salehi is known for using his lyrics to criticise Iran, highlighting corruption, poverty, state executions and the killing of protesters.
Placards and flags, including one reading “Free Toomaj Salehi – Death sentence for rapping”, were carried with Iranian flags by the protesters.
Other protests for Salehi have taken place around the world at the weekend, including in Spain, the US and Australia.
France on Thursday condemned as "unacceptable" his death sentence.
"France strongly condemns this verdict, which comes on top of numerous other death sentences and unjustifiable executions linked to the 2022 protests in Iran," the French Foreign Ministry said, describing Salehi as a "committed artist".
Italy also spokes out against the sentence, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying: "I strongly condemn the Iranian authorities' sentence imposing the death penalty on musician Toomaj Salehi."
"The government opposes the death penalty in all places and circumstances. We continue to defend freedom and human rights around the world."
People rally on the death anniversary of Mahsa Amini - in pictures
Ten UN experts also called for Salehi's release.
The experts, who are independent of the UN, said they were "alarmed by the death sentence and the alleged ill-treatment of Mr Salehi".
"Art must be allowed to criticise, to provoke, to push the boundaries in any society," they said in a statement.
"As harsh Mr Salehi's songs are of the government," the experts said, he was only exercising his "artistic freedom and cultural rights".
They said Salehi was initially sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the 2022 protests sparked by the death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22.
But he was later released by Iran's Supreme Court.
However, Salehi was held again in November last year for criticising the government and saying he was tortured while in custody.
Having been charged with "propaganda against the state", the experts said, Salehi has now been condemned to death.
Thousands defy Iranian police to mourn Mahsa Amini - video
The months of unrest after Ms Amini's death on September 16, 2022, saw hundreds of people killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands more arrested.
Iranian officials called the protests "riots" and accused Tehran's foreign foes of fomenting the unrest.
Nine men have been executed in protest-related cases involving killings and other violence against security forces.
Ms Amini had been arrested for not wearing the hijab according to the strict dress code.
After her death, a growing number of women began appearing in public across the country without adhering to the dress code, with the morality police keeping a low profile.
But since April 13 Iran's police have started to toughen controls on women who flout the rules, according to local media.
The UN experts said it was becoming increasingly common in Iran for "artists, activists and journalists" to be arrested and charged with "publishing false news … or 'propaganda against the state'".
The independent experts – five special rapporteurs and the five members of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – are appointed by the Human Rights Council, although they do not speak on behalf of the UN.
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More from Aya Iskandarani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Brief scores:
Barcelona 3
Pique 38', Messi 51 (pen), Suarez 82'
Rayo Vallecano 1
De Tomas Gomez 24'
