After shocking images of the body of a tortured man circulated on Iranian social media, authorities announced the arrest of five police officers in connection with the detainee’s death.
The arrest came amid growing outrage over the release of a video showing the severe injuries inflicted on Mohammad Mir Mousavi in custody, heightening concerns about the systematic use of violence and torture by Iranian security forces.
On August 24, Mir Mousavi was arrested by special police during a local clash in northern Iran. He was then taken to a police station in Lahijan district, where he was tortured, leading to his death.
The Lahijan prosecutor has confirmed that five police officers from the area have been temporarily detained on suspicion of involvement in Mir Mousavi’s death, but many believe the action is more of a superficial attempt to assuage public outrage than a serious attempt to achieve justice.
On Wednesday, a horrifying video emerged showing the lifeless body of Mir Mousavi. The video, taken during the ritual washing of his body, showed severe torture marks, including deep wounds on his back and waist.
Security officials and the prosecutor reportedly put pressure on Mir Mousavi’s family to prevent them from making the murder public. This tactic of silencing victims and their families is all too common in Iran, where the government has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to do anything to cover up its crimes and avoid international attention.
Despite these efforts, the truth about the circumstances of Mir Mousavi’s death has come to light. However, this case is not an isolated one. According to the human rights organization Hengaw, Mir Mousavi is the seventh person to die under torture in the custody of Iranian security forces since the beginning of 2024 alone.
Amnesty International reported that between January 2010 and September 2021, at least 72 people died in Iranian prisons and detention centers as a result of torture or other forms of physical abuse by intelligence and security officials or prison officers. The Iranian authorities have consistently refused to accept responsibility for these deaths.
In April 2022, Amnesty International published another report“In Death’s Waiting Room: Deaths in Custody Following Willful Denial of Medical Care in Iranian Prisons,” which details the deaths of 96 people in Iranian prisons since 2010 due to willful denial of medical care. The report stresses that the actual number of such deaths is likely much higher, indicating the Islamic Republic’s systematic neglect and mistreatment of those held in its prisons.
