New Details on the Torture of Saman Yasin; From Mock Execution and Broken Nose to Transfer to Aminabad

Saman Saidi, a imprisoned singer known artistically as Saman Yasin, detailed the physical and psychological torture he endured during detention, including mock executions, forced confessions, and a broken nose, in an audio file released by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network. The 27-year-old rapper from Kermanshah was arrested during the nationwide protests in the second half of 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. In the audio file published on Wednesday, August 23, he states that the arresting officials initially threatened him with harassment against his family, saying, 'We have your family. We have your brother. They are all here.' He noted that 'contact and visitation' were prohibited for him, adding, 'I had no news. They said if you want your family not to be tortured, write these down, and you will be freed. I accepted and said just don't harm my family.' In this approximately seven-minute audio file, Saman Yasin describes the torture he endured, stating that during the interrogation and threats against his family, he was taken to a 'cold room' for 'two nights.' He says, 'They put a pen in the left cavity of my nose and broke my nose, and pushed me down the stairs two or three times.' This protest rapper, who was arrested on the 'night of his birthday' by security forces in front of his home in Karaj on charges of 'shooting,' claims he cannot breathe and experiences nosebleeds several nights a week, but the prison medical staff said the 'judge' did not approve his transfer for treatment. Yasin recounts a mock execution by prison officials, saying, 'When I was sentenced to death, I came to Rajai Shahr prison and was quarantined with Mohsen Shekari. Once, they took me for a mock execution.' He adds, 'After that, I was taken back to Evin. I was in Evin for a month, with no questions, no interrogations, nothing. I was in solitary confinement and returned. The sentence was also annulled; the court sends the case to the prosecutor and intelligence to bring better evidence for me, but they send the same previous one that gets annulled.' Saman Yasin, who was sentenced to death in the first trial and then had the sentence annulled, emphasizes that Abolqasem Salavati does not have the 'jurisdiction to handle my case' and the case should go to an equivalent branch. He describes his presence in the first trial, saying, 'In front of Salavati's room, they brought a hair clipper. They shaved my beard and left my mustache. I took the clipper to shave my mustache, but they shocked me and said Salavati ordered us to shave your beard.' He emphasizes that Salavati referred to '11 previous criminal records' in court, stating he had only been to court once for a car accident and has no criminal record. This political prisoner says that in the second session of his trial in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Reza Amouzad, the judge told him to say 'on camera' that 'you were deceived,' but Yasin refused. He states he still does not have the right to choose a lawyer, and the appointed lawyer 'does nothing, does not answer the phone, and does not provide proper answers.' According to this political prisoner, when 'moharebeh' was also charged against him, 'nothing was on his printout,' and at that time, the charges of 'acting against national security and conspiracy' were mentioned. Saman Yasin (Saidi) also speaks about his transfer to Aminabad psychiatric hospital, stating that he requested 'non-imprisonment' because he 'cannot endure closed spaces' due to torture and wanted to be sent outside the prison for treatment of his broken nose; while prison officials said they would transfer him for tests, he was taken to Aminabad. This political prisoner also confirms his previous statements in a letter from prison, saying that his condition worsened afterward. Yasin describes: 'They said we have to give you an injection. I refused. They said, 'Is this your decision here?' They insulted and cursed a lot. Then, by force, four soldiers from Greater Tehran, two from Rajai Shahr, and the rest from the hospital staff attacked me. They tore all my clothes. They forcibly strapped me to the bed. My hands were handcuffed, my feet shackled, and they injected me in the arm, leaving me unconscious for 24 hours.' According to Saman Yasin, they prescribed him medications that made him sleep for 'two days' on the first day, and then he stopped taking them; he says, 'Since I stopped taking the pills, I cannot eat or sleep. I haven't slept for two and a half, three days, and I haven't eaten anything. I haven't eaten a piece of bread. I just can't. Since I returned from Aminabad, I have lost five kilograms.' Saman Yasin (Saidi) stated in a letter written on July 29 in Rajai Shahr prison, published on August 20, that 'the possibility of new exile to an unknown location is always looming over him' and requested that his trial be public and attended by journalists and lawyers. Additionally, see: Saman Yasin's request: My trial should be public and attended by lawyers and journalists. Arash Sobhani, a lyricist, composer, and singer, previously stated in a special program 'Tomaaj and Yasin: The Echo of Imprisonment' on VOA that the Islamic Republic wants to scare artists so that they do not follow the path of Saman Yasin and Tomaaj Salehi, two protesting artists.