Iranian rapper Amir Tataloo has been detained by Turkish authorities in Istanbul after he was flagged as a wanted person by Interpol, police say. Turkish police said Interpol issued a "red notice" for Tataloo, real name Amirhossein Maghsoudloo. However, police said Tataloo was detained for a visa violation. No decision on deportation has been made.

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LONDON — A popular Iranian rapper has been detained in Turkey and faces deportation to Iran after the Turkish police acted on an Interpol red notice to detain him, friends of the rapper and Turkish news media reported. Amir Hussein Maqsoodlo, better known as Amir Tataloo, was detained at an immigration office in the Fatih district of Istanbul, according to a music producer who was with him. At one point several years ago he had some four million followers on Instagram. Tataloo has had numerous run-ins with the authorities over his music; his hard-partying lifestyle; his outspoken attitude; and the tattoos he flaunts. He spent four months in Evin prison in Iran two years ago, and has frequently been detained for short periods over his tattoos, according to the music producer, known as MarG Lotfabadi, who was with him when he was detained in Istanbul.
amir tataloo
Skip to main content. Amir Tataloo. October 18,
An Iranian police spokesperson told the semi-official news agency Mehr that Tataloo had been arrested over drug-related charges. Turkey said Tataloo was initially picked up for a visa violation and a deportation decision has not yet been made. The tattoo-covered musician has courted controversy for his mercurial politics. The artist reportedly moved to Istanbul last year in order to further his career. According to posts on Instagram, he had been issued a UK visa and was preparing to travel to perform in London in February before he was detained. The artist has to date been jailed twice: briefly in for appearing on illegal foreign satellite channels, and for two months in on charges of corrupting the youth.