Latest Death Toll in Protests; Judiciary Spokesman: 25 Killed in the Streets

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the Judiciary spokesman, announced that 25 individuals were killed during the protests in December 2017, and regarding the deaths of two prisoners in Evin and Arak prisons, he stated that they had committed suicide. According to ISNA news agency, this judicial official stated on Sunday, January 14, that 'in total, 25 people from the public and our own forces were killed in the streets, and their deaths were not due to the gunfire of military and law enforcement forces.' He mentioned that 'it had been emphasized not to shoot, and some did not have weapons at all.' The Judiciary spokesman commented on the casualties during the protests, saying: 'Two individuals, a father and son, were killed in a vehicle by a fire truck, and a case has been opened regarding this matter. Some were killed with cold weapons and some with firearms, which is suspicious. The enemy, like in the 2009 sedition, intended to create a narrative of deaths.' He also stated: 'Some of our security forces clashed with anti-revolutionaries and were martyred.' Morteza Kazemian, a journalist and political analyst in Paris, commented on the number of casualties in the recent protests to Radio Farda: 'In a sense, Mr. Ejei distances himself from the lives and basic rights of the protesting citizens who have been sacrificed with 'our own forces.' It is questionable that Mr. Ejei has stated that the victims were not killed by 'the gunfire of military and law enforcement forces.' So who were the killers and shooters at the protesters? Were they the Basij, the IRGC, or intelligence and security forces? The judiciary does not clarify the reasons for the deaths of each of these 25 citizens and continues to downplay the costly incident.' Previously, according to Tasnim news agency, Ali Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, on January 10, described the deaths in the recent nationwide protests in Iran as 'suspicious' and denied that military and law enforcement forces had come to the streets 'with weapons.' These statements come at a time when Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, and organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Iranian officials to investigate the deaths and address the situation of detainees from the recent protests in Iran. According to ISNA, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, in another part of his remarks regarding the number of detainees, said: 'According to reports from the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence, the number of those identified and arrested as anti-revolutionary elements and leaders of the riots was 622 from the first to the third days, of which some were issued temporary detention orders, and some were released on bail.' The Judiciary spokesman did not specify the exact total number of detainees in the following days and added that 'the remaining detainees in Tehran until today are 55.' Based on the latest information he read, he added: 'From across the country, about 400 individuals are still detained, of which some were released yesterday and today (Saturday and Sunday).' The Judiciary spokesman's statements came at a time when, according to Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament from Tehran, the number of detainees from the recent protests and gatherings has reached 3,700. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei regarding the arrests during the protests said: 'If arrests occurred during the street riots, it was emphasized that they should not go to prison at first to avoid creating a criminal record for them; because individuals may be arrested who are deceived, innocent, and guilty.' This is while, according to students, some of the approximately 100 students arrested in recent days were arrested at their homes and had not even participated in the gatherings. In this regard, some members of parliament, including Farid Mousavi and Mahmoud Sadeghi, stated that these students were arrested for 'preventive' reasons. These arrests have drawn criticism from some legal experts, including Shirin Ebadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh, who stated that there is no law in Iran for preemptive arrests before the commission of a crime. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also reported the arrest of 'a dual national who was taking pictures and filming.' Previously, the head of the judiciary in Borujerd had stated that a European national was arrested during the protests. Nevertheless, more details about the arrested individual were not provided in these reports. He also announced: 'Individuals who incited and encouraged people to riot virtually or non-virtually from abroad are set to be pursued through Interpol.' The Judiciary spokesman responded to a question regarding investigations into 'the leaders of the rioters' by saying: 'Investigations have not yet been completed, and some individuals have confessed to their crimes, including connections with the Mojahedin and monarchists, but no indictment has been issued for anyone yet.' 'Suicides in Evin and Arak Prisons' The Judiciary spokesman regarding reports related to the deaths of several imprisoned protesters in recent days, without mentioning their names, stated that the cause of their deaths was 'suicide.' He mentioned the death of a prisoner in the Arak police detention center, saying: 'This individual was an addict and had some drugs with him, and a case has been opened in the Arak judiciary for him, which is being pursued.' Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei regarding the death of one of the detainees in Evin prison also said: 'One individual among the recent detainees in Evin prison committed suicide in the restroom, according to a video and image taken. This individual was an addict and about 21 years old and was not a student.' He announced that a case has been opened regarding this matter, adding: 'The final result will be announced after it is determined.' This judicial official pointed out that Sina Ghanbari 'was arrested during the riots' and added: 'However, there has been no report that he was with the rioters, and it has not been proven.' Morteza Kazemian regarding the characterization of these two prisoners as addicts says: 'By describing the two victims as addicts, the Judiciary spokesman deprives them of their citizenship rights and even their human rights; an important approach and assessment that reveals the perspective of the ruling current on the judiciary.' According to ISNA, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei continued, regarding what he called 'the claims of the suicides of the third and fourth individuals,' he said: 'With all the investigations conducted, the claims of the suicides of the third and fourth individuals are not true.' The Judiciary spokesman's remarks came at a time when following the inquiries of some members of parliament, it was confirmed that Sina Ghanbari died in Evin prison and Vahid Heydari died in a detention center in Arak. In this regard, more than 40 representatives in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament called for an investigation into the claims of suicide of these two individuals. In the letter from the members of parliament, a copy of which was published by Mahmoud Sadeghi, it is mentioned that the claims of suicide of these individuals have been questioned by their families and eyewitnesses. In addition to these two individuals, on Saturday, the body of Saro Ghahramani, another detained protester from the recent events, was handed over to his family in Sanandaj. It has also been reported that another individual died in Dezful prison.