Warning from IRGC Media Regarding the Death of Mir Mousavi in Custody: Nationwide Protests of 2021 Could Have Repeated

On the eve of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of the morality police, a media outlet close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) provided new details about the 'torture' and death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi in police custody in Gilan province, warning that events similar to the nationwide protests of 2021 could have been repeated. Following the death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi in police custody, the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported that 'there was a possibility that some events' similar to the nationwide protests following Mahsa Amini's death could arise in this case as well. The report described the torture endured by the deceased citizen, stating, 'They had used so much tear gas at the police station that it was impossible to breathe. They also used tasers extensively to calm Mohammad Mir Mousavi down.' The IRGC-affiliated media also noted that given the experience of Mahsa Amini's death in custody and its consequences, 'such issues are highly sensitive.' It mentioned that the Gilan Security Council had prohibited local officials from giving interviews to prevent nationwide protests and what the Islamic Republic officials term 'sedition' from recurring. Tasnim reported that at Mr. Mir Mousavi's funeral, 'a few people had brought placards with photos of Mahsa Amini to commemorate that incident,' but they were not allowed to raise them. The government and judiciary issued 'statements and promises to follow up' to prevent protests similar to those following Mahsa Amini's death, which this report referred to as 'potential crisis creation.' The report cited 'some' sources claiming that Mohammad Mir Mousavi's family was told that the deceased had hit his head against the wall of the detention center and died, but 'with the release of a video of the corpse during washing, showing signs of beating on his body, the story changed.' Meanwhile, the news agency stated that Mohammad Mir Mousavi's arrest occurred following a local dispute, citing a village council member who claimed that his arrest was suggested by his own father. However, a resident of the village of Naserkiahd in Lahijan stated that 'the police manipulated the facts to evade responsibility.' The report also mentioned that Mohammad Mir Mousavi's death occurred 'in a part of the police station where there were no surveillance cameras,' and 'according to the Gilan Security Council's directive, no officials in the province, except for the prosecutor, are allowed to give interviews.' On September 1, the Shargh newspaper reported that Mohammad Mir Mousavi, the son of a former deputy mayor of Langroud, who was killed in police custody, had been shot in the back by officers. The newspaper noted that residents who gathered outside the 'Naserkiahd' police station, where this citizen was detained, heard the sound of gunfire. Shargh quoted another resident of Naserkiahd as saying, 'During the dispute, they tied Seyed Mohammad to a tree and set his car on fire; 'of course, the car belonged to his father. Then they took him to the police station, where they tied him to a chair or a pole and beat him with cables, iron bars, and batons, and he died as a result of these blows.' Activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the mistreatment and torture of detainees, and international organizations have called for an end to these practices. However, reports of another detainee's death in custody on Thursday, September 15, have surfaced. Additionally, there have been reports of a young man being killed by police gunfire, with the cause of death cited as the use of 'military equipment outside of war.' The death of a detainee in the Islamic Republic's police custody was also reported, with the prosecutor claiming he fell ill during transfer for interrogation and died. Narges Mohammadi's reaction to Mohammad Mir Mousavi's death described the Islamic Republic as 'a regime filled with hatred, oppression, and discrimination.' Reports have indicated an increase in violence by government agents against detainees, including the death of a woman in a detention center in Khuzestan. The police claimed that the torture and death of Mohammad Mir Mousavi were due to 'excitement' and 'anger' of the officers.