Death of a Young Man in Custody of Gilan Police; Judiciary Says Temporary Arrest Order Issued for 5 Officers

The Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported that Mohammad Mir Mousavi, from Lahijan County in Gilan Province, died under torture after being detained by the special forces of the Islamic Republic's police at a police station in Langroud County. According to the report, Mohammad Mir Mousavi was arrested during a brawl on Saturday, August 25. Hengaw noted that images released of the young man's body show that he had been 'severely beaten and suffered from bleeding.' Meanwhile, Hirakani, which identifies itself on the social media platform 'X' as 'Alborz Human Rights and Environment Media,' wrote on Thursday, August 31, about new details regarding the arrest and death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi, stating that 'he got into a confrontation with Basij forces who intended to arrest him; after the Basij members failed to detain him, police officers from the Nasrkiadeh Rudbneh station were dispatched to the scene, where they arrested him with violence and transferred him to the Nasrkiadeh police station.' Hirakani did not mention the reason for the confrontation between the Islamic Republic's Basij forces and the young man. According to the report, after Mohammad Mir Mousavi's transfer, 'police officers severely tortured him with his hands and feet bound, causing his condition to deteriorate, and ultimately, his lifeless body was transferred to the Lahijan police station, where he died without receiving medical attention despite needing care.' Journalist Marjan Zahraei wrote on Wednesday, August 30, on social media 'X': 'A horrifying image of the lifeless body, showing clear signs of severe torture, has been circulated online and is attributed to a person named Seyed Mohammad Mir Mousavi from a village in Lahijan County. At the same time, it has been reported that 5 personnel from the Lahijan police have been arrested.' Meanwhile, the Hengaw Human Rights Organization stated: 'According to someone who washed his body, security forces had pierced two spots on his back and waist during torture.' Additionally, 'another witness stated that security forces beat and tortured this young man with his hands and feet bound.' In this context, the Human Rights Documentation Center in Iran noted on social media 'X' regarding the murder of Mohammad Mir Mousavi: 'His body, which shows signs of torture, was handed over to his family by the special forces. In a video released of Mr. Mir Mousavi's corpse, it is stated that he was tortured with his hands and feet bound, and even the area of his lower back was pierced.' The Hengaw report indicates that Mohammad Mir Mousavi's family has been 'pressured by security agencies not to publicize this crime.' This human rights organization added that security agencies, particularly the Langroud prosecutor's office, have threatened the family of the young victim against informing and providing details about his murder. Following the news of Mohammad Mir Mousavi's murder by police officers on social media, Ebrahim Ansari, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Lahijan County, referred to what he called 'the death of a suspect under the supervision of the Lahijan police command,' stating that a temporary arrest order has been issued for '5 police officers.' According to the Islamic Republic's judiciary-affiliated news agency, Mizan, he did not provide further details, stating that 'this matter was also discussed in the special events follow-up committee of the judiciary of the province with the presence of judicial officials and is under special investigation and supervision.' This judicial official of the Islamic Republic added that 'the provincial citizen rights committee has traveled to Lahijan, and thorough judicial investigations and examinations are ongoing.' Meanwhile, the public relations center of the Islamic Republic police referred to the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi by police officers as an 'accidental death' and stated that 'according to the order of Radān,' the commander of the Islamic Republic police, all 'suspects in the incident' are under interrogation and investigation, and 'potential violators will be dealt with.' In this regard, Atena Daemi, a former political prisoner and human rights activist residing in Canada, wrote on social media 'X': '...the news of the arrest of the officers and the handling of this case is merely to deceive, calm the people, and control their anger, not to end torture in prisons. In the Qarchak and Lakan prisons, I have seen many general crime prisoners who were brutally tortured and were forced into silence through threats and intimidation!' In recent years, reports of mistreatment of detainees in the Islamic Republic's law enforcement and security agencies have been published. In this regard, Kambez Norouzadeh, a civil activist, wrote: 'In recent years, deaths in detention centers and prisons have alarmingly increased.' Criticism from Haji Reza Baluch towards security agencies followed the 'murder' of Zaliha Gomshadzehi by military forces in Qaderabad Khash; shooting of an Islamic Republic officer at a woman in Mazandaran for 'mandatory hijab'; reports: Arzu Badri is in a coma; investigative report by Voice of America | Rape of at least 11 girls and boys detained during the protests of 1401 Mazandaran - Part One.