Increase in Government Violence Against Detainees; Reports of a Woman's Death in a Detention Center in Khuzestan

While society and the media are still in shock over the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi in a detention center in Langarud, media reported on Friday, September 9, about the death of a woman in a detention center in Khuzestan. The Iran Human Rights Center identified the deceased as a 24-year-old woman named Masoumeh Hovizat, a resident of Mahshahr, stating that she was arrested about a week ago on charges of theft and transferred to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, and after two days was moved to the intelligence department where she lost her life due to the beatings by officers. Reports indicate that Masoumeh Hovizat was married and had two children. This report comes as images circulated on social media last week showing horrific signs of torture on the body of a young man who had been killed and was being washed in a morgue. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization confirmed the images and torture, identifying the young man as Mohammad Mir Mousavi, a 36-year-old Gilak from the village of Barkosar in Lahijan, who was killed on Saturday, September 3, 2023, following 'severe torture' and 'while his hands and feet were bound' by the Islamic Republic's police forces. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization again reported on Thursday, September 8, that it had obtained information through its sources indicating that Mohammad Mir Mousavi was essentially transferred to the Naserkiadeh police station in Langarud for torture and was brutally killed after enduring torture there. Initially, the police referred to the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi as an 'incident of death,' later stating that by the order of Radān, the commander of this force, 'the commander of the police station was dismissed and other involved personnel were suspended from service, placed at the disposal of the judiciary, and if negligence and lack of attention from other police managers is confirmed, appropriate disciplinary punishments will be executed.' However, on Friday, September 9, this force claimed that the torture and death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi were due to 'excitement' and 'anger' of the officers. Widespread criticism from social media users regarding the performance of the police force in recent days compelled Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the fourteenth government, to respond, calling for an investigation by the Minister of Interior regarding what Elias Hazrati, the head of the government's information council, referred to as 'the incident of the death of a detainee in Lahijan.' This description of the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi has also drawn further criticism towards Masoud Pezeshkian. Numerous reports have been published regarding the mistreatment of detainees and their torture in the Islamic Republic's detention centers, but Islamic Republic officials deny the torture of detainees. Activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the mistreatment and torture of detainees, and international organizations have called for an end to these behaviors. Mourning ceremonies were held at the grave of Mohammad Mir Mousavi, the young man killed in detention, and videos showed severe torture marks on his body. The police's claim regarding the torture and death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi being due to 'excitement' and 'anger' of the officers has been met with skepticism. Hengaw reported new information regarding the murder of Mohammad Mir Mousavi at the Naserkiadeh police station in Lahijan, and the judiciary stated that temporary detention orders were issued for five officers involved.