Two Protesters Severely Beaten in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad After Security Forces Raid Their Home
Following the circulation of a video showing the mother of Amorallah Tagavi, a martyr of the Iran-Iraq War, complaining about the “brutal” arrest of her children who are among those protesting rising prices in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, an informed source confirmed the attack by security forces on her home and the arrest of her sons.
On Sunday, April 15, a video was posted on social media showing Amorallah Tagavi’s mother in tears. According to her account, security forces suddenly raided their home in the city of Suq in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, and after insulting her and her daughter, brutally beat her son named Enayat and took him away.
In this regard, a family member of the Tagavi family stated on Monday, April 16, in an interview with the website “Emtedad” that several officers wearing police uniforms entered the Tagavi family home around 9 a.m. on Sunday with boots, and when Enayat Tagavi asked them for a warrant, they beat him with batons and punched and kicked him, then took him away.
This informed source stated that when other people present in the home also asked for a warrant and identification card, these officers said, “We are military forces and it is none of your business.”
According to this informed source, these officers returned to the Tagavi family home after one hour with a written document that referenced summoning several people including “Ali Tagavi,” and regarding the reason for the arrest and beating of Enayat Tagavi, they said, “He stood against us and resisted.”
Based on this report, during this visit, the officers arrested Ali Tagavi, Enayat’s brother. Due to his resistance to handcuffing, they beat him severely, and by hitting him against the air conditioning unit’s bars, they broke his hand and four ribs, as well as ruptured his lung. They then dragged him toward the vehicle.
According to this informed source, until Sunday night, permission was not given to transfer Ali Tagavi from prison to a medical center, and after being transferred to the hospital during the night, he underwent emergency surgery.
According to the family’s uncle, Ali Tagavi, his nephew, along with his son and some of the protesters, numbering around 15 people, had been arrested the night before during their participation in a gathering protesting price increases. However, according to the police chief, since “no rule violations or damage to public property” had occurred on their part, they were released during the night and were supposed to report to the police station on Sunday.
According to IRNA, following the circulation of this video and news about the arrest of the Tagavi brothers and the insulting treatment of their family, the Friday Prayer Leader of the city of Suq in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the home area of the Tagavi family, and the commander of the Basij and the police chief confirmed this news on Sunday.
Based on this report, the Friday Prayer Leader and the two commanders mentioned above went to the family’s home on Sunday to “apologize,” but the report did not include any information about following up on this issue or taking action against the officers who used severe violence.
Protests in recent days in a number of Iranian cities have occurred following a significant increase in food prices in Iran, with most western regions of Iran, including cities in Khuzestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, being centers of these protests.
Videos released so far from these protests show that Iranian security officers in some cases have resorted to tear gas and batons. The sound of gunfire is also heard in many of these videos, but it is unclear whether the shots were rubber bullets. However, in recent days, multiple videos have been released showing the wounding and even killing of protesting citizens with live ammunition and buckshot in various cities.
In many of these videos, protesters can be heard chanting slogans against Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and against the current Iranian government in general.
Source: Radio Farda
