An Iranian court sentenced rapper Amir Tatalu to 10 years in prison, the court spokesman said, quoted by DPA and BTA.
„Tatalu has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for debauchery and immoral acts,” the spokesman said, quoted by the Iranian judiciary-linked news website “Mizan”.
The appeals court has upheld the conviction, meaning the 36-year-old rapper must begin serving his prison sentence immediately, the spokesman said.
The rapper's real name is Amirhossein Magsudlu. He is one of the most colorful personalities of the Iranian hip-hop scene, DPA notes.
For several years he lived in exile in Turkey, but in December last year the Turkish authorities deported him to Iran.
Tatalu's hip-hop creations are not officially permitted in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as he does not have the necessary permission from the Ministry of Culture. The authorities think that his music is too western and immoral.
In May, the rapper went on trial on several counts of blasphemy and propaganda against the state, which could have been punishable by death. Tatalu, however, avoided the maximum sentence.