Back at It – Here’s What’s New This Week

This week in The Unbelief Brief, we examine the uncertain fate of Iranian musician Amir Tataloo, the escape of rapper Saman Yasin after years of imprisonment, and the arrest of Turkish influencer Murat Övüç for “insulting religious values.” Plus, don’t miss the latest in our Persecution Tracker Updates, where we detail Övüç’s case in more detail.

Unbelief Brief

In Iran, it appears a popular musician may have been sentenced to death—but different state sources are releasing conflicting information. Amir Tataloo, despite his past support for the Iranian regime, has attracted criticism from conservative corners of society due to his “nontraditional” physical appearance and behavior. He is reportedly charged with insulting the Prophet Muhammad, and according to “state-run media” he was recently sentenced to death for it. However, the judiciary later stated that his guilt has yet to be determined, leaving his current situation unclear. If found guilty, he would almost certainly face a death sentence, though he would retain the theoretical right to appeal the verdict.

Another Iranian musician, rapper Saman Yasin, has managed to escape to Berlin following his incarceration and subsequent death sentence resulting from his participation in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. According to “a source close to Yasin's family,” he “was tortured and subjected to forced confessions during interrogations” over the course of his imprisonment, which lasted more than two years. While his death sentence was overturned last year and commuted to five years’ imprisonment, we welcome the news that he has escaped this abhorrent and unjustifiable punishment.

Lastly, earlier this month in Turkey: authorities “launched an investigation” against Murat Övüç, a social media influencer. The charge is for “insulting religious values” and reportedly resulted in an arrest. As Duvar English reports:

Recently, Övüç had posted a video of himself wearing a headscarf on a flight with the caption "I am coming to Istanbul," adding, "Whatever I wear, it suits me."

Övüç has been known for his shows that resemble drag queen performances. His unique style and flamboyant persona have garnered him a significant following on social media.

Of course, this comes down to the sex-based nature of Islamic modesty requirements, but there is still something peculiarly ironic about a traditionalist, semi-Islamist government arresting someone for wearing a hijab.

Persecution Tracker Updates

Our Persecution Tracker entry on the aforementioned Murat Övüç case can be found here.

Until next week,

The Team at Ex-Muslims of North America

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