One of Those Detained in Recent Protests Dies Under Torture
A Kurdish citizen named Kaveh Visani, who was detained during recent popular protests, died under torture.
According to a report by the Hengaw Human Rights Network, Kaveh Visani, a resident of Khamsan village in Kamyaran and a resident of Sanandaj, who was arrested on Sunday, November 15 by security forces during recent popular protests in Sanandaj, died as a result of “torture.”
Based on the report from this human rights organization, the body of this Kurdish citizen was found on Friday, December 6 in “Babariz” on the outskirts of Sanandaj, bearing visible signs of torture and bruising on his body.
Voice of America cannot independently verify the accuracy of this report.
This is not the first time an Iranian citizen has died while in detention. Previously, Javad Khosrovanian, who was arrested on September 8 by Khormabad Intelligence Department officials, died due to beatings inflicted to extract a confession.
Earlier, news of the death of Benjamin Al-Boghebish, an Arab citizen of Ahvaz who was arrested on June 25, 2019 along with his brother Mohammad Ali Al-Boghebish by Information Department officials, was announced to his family on July 25. Following the publication of this news, Amnesty International issued a statement calling on Iranian authorities to conduct swift, effective, and impartial investigations into the death of this prisoner.
Following a sudden spike in gasoline prices, Iran witnessed widespread popular protests against the Islamic Republic. On Friday, November 15, after sudden news of gasoline price increases was announced, protests took place in various Iranian cities, and just one day after the protests began, the Islamic Republic cut off the internet almost completely on Saturday night, November 16.
President Donald Trump again expressed support for Iran’s popular protests on Thursday, December 5, emphasizing the role of media in reporting the “dire conditions” in Iran, and said: “The Council should take action to counter the dangers the world is facing, including the behavior of the Iranian regime, which has so far killed hundreds and hundreds of people in a short period. They are killing protesters and cutting off the internet so that the world cannot hear and see their words. They do not want the media to report; because the situation there is not good. The situation is very dire.”
“Josep Borrell,” the European Union’s foreign policy chief, also responded on Sunday, December 8 to recent street protests in Iran and called for transparency from Islamic Republic officials in announcing the number of victims and fair prosecution of detainees.
Source: Voice of America
