The Family of Vahid Heydari Has Been Threatened

Iranian officials confirmed in recent days the deaths of at least two detainees in Evin and Arak prisons. Sina Ghanbari died in quarantine at Evin prison, and Vahid Heydari in a detention center in Arak. Iranian authorities claim the cause of death for both was 'suicide.' The Iran Human Rights Campaign reported, citing relatives of Vahid Heydari, that signs of beating and bruising were visible on his head when the body was viewed. Amnesty International issued a statement calling for 'immediate investigations' into these deaths. Ali Bagheri, a civil activist in Shazand, Arak, who has spoken closely with Heydari's relatives, told Radio Farda that Heydari's family has been 'threatened.' Heydari, according to his cousin, was '23 years old and a street vendor.' Earlier, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament from Tehran, tweeted on Monday confirming the death of Sina Ghanbari, one of the recent detainees in Evin prison, and warned of a potential 'second Kahrizak.' Mohsen Rouhalamini and many other protesters against the 2009 presidential election results were transferred to Kahrizak detention center, which reportedly had very poor conditions. According to official reports from the Iranian government, at least two other individuals, Amir Javadi-Far and Mohammad Kamrani, were killed in this detention center besides Mohsen Rouhalamini. Protests against the economic situation and government policies began in Mashhad and several other cities on December 28 but quickly spread to over 100 other cities in Iran, including Tehran, and lasted for more than a week. During these protests, which featured strong slogans against the leaders and domestic and regional policies of the Islamic Republic, over 3,700 people were arrested, and at least 22 deaths have been confirmed.