Police Acknowledges Unprofessional Behavior and 'Loss of Control' in Death of Mir Mousavi

Following the death of a young man due to 'severe beating' while in police custody in Lahijan, the police information center admitted that police forces failed to control their 'anger and emotions' during the confrontation with him. In a statement released on Friday, September 9, it was explicitly stated that the death of this young man occurred 'due to the excitement resulting from the friction between the late Mir Mousavi and police personnel and the failure to control anger and emotions by some staff and disregard for the condition of the accused.' The statement confirmed the detention of several police officers in connection with this case and emphasized that 'the behavior exhibited by some police personnel was contrary to the professional conduct of the police and is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, the aforementioned individuals have been handed over to the judicial authority.' The police information center also announced the 'dismissal' of the commander of the Langroud police station and stated that 'other involved personnel have been suspended from service.' The statement emphasized that 'if negligence and lack of attention by other police managers is confirmed, appropriate disciplinary punishments will be implemented.' Recently, the news of the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi, a 36-year-old from the village of Seyed Mahalleh in Lahijan, who was arrested by special forces during a local dispute, due to 'severe beating' at the Langroud police station has made headlines. One day earlier, the prosecutor of Lahijan stated that five police personnel had been arrested in this regard. In a shocking video published by Hengaw and Dadban, the bloody body of a young man is seen being washed in a morgue, with signs of 'torture and severe beating' evident on his body. Meanwhile, the Fars news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, reported that 'statements and evidence suggest that the accused was likely beaten during his arrest.' Previously, the human rights organization Hengaw reported that Mohammad Mir Mousavi died on the same day he was arrested, but it is unclear when his body was handed over to his family. According to the police statement, this incident occurred on 'Thursday, September 1, in the village of Nasrakiadeh in the Lahijan County.' According to Iranian media, in addition to a committee formed by the Minister of Interior to investigate the matter, Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police, has also ordered an investigation into this issue. The death of citizens in the custody of Iranian government forces has occurred repeatedly in the past, and the Lahijan incident comes on the eve of the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Javad Rouhi, one of the detainees from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, also died under suspicious circumstances in Nowshahr prison on September 9 last year, with the Iranian judiciary attributing his death to 'drug interactions.' Previously, several other political prisoners have died in Iranian prisons, including Sattar Beheshti, a blogger, and victims of the Kahrizak detention center in 2009.