Exclusive; Beating of Saman Yasin in 'Ghazal-Hesar'; Crime: 'Speaking Kurdish' with Family

According to reports received by Voice of America, Saman Yasin, a protesting singer imprisoned in Ghazal-Hesar prison in Karaj—where he was transferred along with 12 other political prisoners on September 3—has been beaten by prison security forces. He was assaulted after speaking Kurdish during a phone call with his family. Saman Sidi, the imprisoned singer known artistically as Saman Yasin, recently described in an audio file the physical and psychological tortures he has endured in detention, including mock executions, forced confessions, and a broken nose. This 27-year-old rapper from Kermanshah was arrested during nationwide protests in the second half of 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. In an audio file released on Wednesday, August 23, by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, he states that the arresting officials threatened him from the beginning with harassment of his family, saying, 'We have your family. We have your brother. They are all here.' He mentioned that 'contact and visitation' have been prohibited for him, adding, 'I had no news. They said if you want your family not to be tortured, write these things, and you will be released. I accepted and said just leave my family alone.' In this approximately seven-minute audio file, Saman Yasin describes the tortures he has endured, stating that between interrogations and threats to his family, he was taken to the 'cold room' for 'two nights.' He says, 'They put a pen in the left cavity of my nose and broke my nose, and they also pushed me down the stairs two or three times.' This protesting rapper, who was arrested on 'his birthday' by security forces in front of his house in Karaj on charges of 'shooting,' says he cannot breathe and experiences nosebleeds several nights a week, but the prison medical staff stated that the 'judge' did not approve his transfer for treatment. The Human Rights Defenders Center expressed concern on Tuesday, September 12, in a letter addressed to Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the 'Human Rights Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran,' regarding the health of thirteen prisoners transferred to Ghazal-Hesar. In the letter, it is stated that the 13 political prisoners were transferred from Evin prison 'without prior warning and contrary to the laws governing the execution of criminal sentences' and are being held in 'complete insecurity' in the section for 'dangerous prisoners' without the slightest sanitary facilities, nutrition, or proper ventilation. The letter emphasizes that these individuals have begun a hunger strike in protest against this 'illegal' act since September 3, and 'their health is at risk.' The Iranian Human Rights Defenders Center, while expressing concern for the health of these individuals, has requested that Javaid Rehman pressure the Islamic Republic to comply with prison laws and ensure the safety of prisoners, facilitating the return of the hunger-striking prisoners to Evin prison. The prisoners transferred to Ghazal-Hesar include Jafar Ebrahimi, Kamyar Fakour, Loghman Aminpour, Saeed Masouri, Afshin Bayamani, Sepehr Imam-Jom'e, Zartosht Ahmadi-Ragheb, Mohammad Shafaei, Saman Sidi (Yasin), Hamzeh Savari, Ahmadreza Haeri, Reza Salmanzadeh, and Masoudreza Ebrahimi-Nejad.