Severe Concerns from Family of Ali Younesi, Detained Elite Scholar at Sharif University

Members of Ali Younesi’s family have expressed severe concerns about his health condition. Ali Younesi is an Iranian medal-winning astronomy expert in the world and has been in detention for more than two weeks.

Aida Younesi, the sister of Ali Younesi, a detained student at Sharif University, posted a video on Twitter demanding explanations from responsible authorities about her brother’s detention and beating. Ali Younesi, 20 years old, holds a world gold medal in astronomy.

Younesi was arrested on April 11 (Farvardin 22) along with severe beating. This means more than two weeks of detention for this Iranian elite despite repeated promises of release to his family. According to Reza Younesi, Ali Younesi’s brother, this is what caused the family’s silence about his detention.

Some media outlets mistakenly reported the arrest date as April 22 (Ordibehesht 2).

In her video on Twitter, addressed to Alireza Qaderi, the Basij official at Sharif University of Technology, Aida Younesi says: “Where in the law is it written that you can beat a 20-year-old young man and shock his parents with his bloody face? When you beat Ali like that on the street and brought him home in that condition, what torture do you do in solitary confinement?”

Reza Younesi, Ali Younesi’s brother, had previously explained on Twitter about the manner of arrest, saying “On Friday evening, April 11, 12 plainclothes officers brought Ali home.” Reza Younesi continued writing about his brother’s condition: “His forehead was completely bloody and his head was hit.”

According to Reza Younesi, the family is now severely concerned about his brother’s condition, “both in terms of injuries from the officers’ beating, especially the forehead laceration and head injury, and in terms of concern about the coronavirus situation in detention centers.”

Amirhosein Moradi, Ali Younesi’s fellow student, was arrested at the same time and with beating. He is also currently in detention.

Request for More Clarification About the Case or Apology

Aida Younesi, Ali Younesi’s sister, continues in her Twitter video: “Even if Ali had committed a crime, you could have summoned him, now 15 days have passed since you took him, what story are you looking for that you need to interrogate him for two weeks? If the law prevailed, you would pursue your accusations against Ali and his family.”

Referring to the family’s concerns, she stated: “Last Thursday, after my father’s follow-ups and release promises, a ridiculous charge of attempted sabotage was brought against Ali. Today the prosecutor again said Ali committed no crime and will be released on Tuesday.”

In this video, Aida Younesi asks the Sharif University student Basij official to “either explain the case details or apologize for spreading lies.”

Source: DW