Human Rights Watch Calls for Action from President Pasargad Following the Death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi

The organization "Human Rights Watch" reacted to the killing of Mohammad Mir Mousavi while in the custody of the police, viewing this incident as an opportunity for Iran's new president to fulfill his commitment to hold security forces accountable for mistreatment and abuse of citizens. In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, September 14, it referred to the order by Masoud Pezeshkian to the Iranian Minister of Interior; an order issued to investigate the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi at the end of August after his arrest due to a street brawl in Lahijan. Human Rights Watch stated: "The reported death of Mir Mousavi under torture presents an important choice for Pezeshkian: whether to allow the heinous impunity of security forces to continue or to seriously and credibly investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable." Narges Mohammadi held the Islamic Republic responsible for the "premeditated murder" of Mohammad Mir Mousavi in Lahijan. Recently, news of the death of 36-year-old Mohammad Mir Mousavi from the village of Seyed Mahalleh, who was arrested by special forces during a local dispute, became newsworthy due to "severe injuries" sustained at the Langarud police station. Following the widespread release of videos showing numerous wounds on Mr. Mousavi's body on media and social networks, the Lahijan prosecutor announced the arrest of five individuals in connection with this case, and Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, asked the Minister of Interior to follow up on the matter. Earlier, Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also held the Islamic Republic responsible for the "premeditated murder" of Mohammad Mir Mousavi under the "brutal torture of its agents" in the city of Lahijan and called for accountability from government officials. The Islamic Republic's police announced that the young man's death was due to "excitement caused by friction between the late Mir Mousavi and police personnel and the inability to control anger and emotions by some staff and neglect of the suspect's condition." A day later, the police command announced the dismissal of the Lahijan police chief due to "insufficient oversight of staff performance and behavior."