University professor dies in Evin prison two weeks after arrest; authorities say it was suicide
The death of a university professor and environmental activist has raised questions after nearly two weeks in prison. Iranian judicial authorities say he committed suicide.
The AFP reported on Sunday, February 12, that the Iranian scientific community was in shock after hearing the news of the death of Kavous Seyyed Emami, 63, a prominent sociology professor and director of the Persian Heritage Wildlife Foundation.
Mr. Seyed Emami's family announced the passing of this environmental activist on social media on Saturday night.
Iranian judicial authorities say that he, who was arrested and imprisoned along with seven of his colleagues eighteen days ago, committed suicide, but Mr. Seyed Emami's family has rejected the Iranian judicial authorities' claim and called for an independent autopsy.
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi announced on Saturday the arrest of several people on espionage charges, saying they were collecting classified information under the pretext of scientific and environmental research. He also confirmed on Sunday the death of Dr. Seyed Emami in prison, telling the Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, that Kavous Seyed Emami was aware of the evidence against him and had confessed to his guilt, which is why he committed suicide.
A university professor and close associate of Kavous Seyed Emami emphasized in an interview with AFP that Mr. Seyed Emami loved Iran and the environment and was not politically active in any way.
An official from the Iranian Ministry of Justice told ILNA that more people have been identified in connection with the Parsian Heritage Institute and are being prosecuted on espionage charges.
The Iranian Center for Human Rights in New York also announced that at the same time as Mr. Seyed Emami's arrest, nine other of his colleagues and directors of the Persian Heritage Institute were also arrested and imprisoned, including an Iranian-American citizen named Morad Tahbaz.
In recent weeks, the Iranian judiciary has declared the cause of death in prison of several detainees from recent protests, including Sina Ghanbari, as suicide.
Source: Voice of America
