Defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' Case Detained After Court Hearing

A lawyer announced on his X account that the bail for four defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' case was converted to detention, leading to their arrest. Payam Darfashan wrote: 'Today, after the session for final defense in the Ekbatān case, unexpectedly, the bail for my client Hossein Nematī and three other released defendants was converted to detention, and they were all sent to Rajai Shahr Prison.' The last court session regarding the charges against the four defendants, who were among those arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, was held on Saturday, November 3, 2023. According to news sources, four other defendants were scheduled to appear in court on November 4, but ultimately, as announced by this lawyer, the defendants were sent to prison. Hossein Nematī, Alireza Barmarzpournak, Alireza Kafayi, and Amir Mohammad Khushqebal were the four defendants who were released from Qazalhasar Prison on bail in Bahman 1402 (January-February 2024) and appeared in court for the last time on Sunday, November 4. The 'Ekbatān Town' case revolves around the death of a Basij member named Arman Ali-Vardi, who was reportedly killed during the suppression of nationwide protests in November 2022 in Ekbatān Town, Tehran. At least 50 young residents of this residential area in the western part of the capital were arrested in connection with this case, among whom indictments were issued for 14 individuals, and ultimately, 8 young people faced charges of murder or complicity in the murder of this Basij member. According to independent reports and human rights sources, the defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' case have been subjected to severe torture during their detention and coerced into confessing against themselves and other defendants.