A 16-year-old Kurdish boy from Sardasht, West Azerbaijan province in Iran, died last week during surgery for injuries sustained during his arrest by Iranian security forces amid nationwide protests.
The teenager, Barzin Hamzezadeh, had been arrested in early December 2022 during the widespread Jin Jîyan Azadî (‘Woman Life Freedom’) protests that swept the country.
The Norway-based human rights organisation Hengaw released a video on Sunday showing the violent arrest of Hamzezadeh by two Iranian security agents. The footage shows the agents struggling to place him in their vehicle, using threats and intimidation to maintain control until additional forces arrived.
According to Hengaw, Barzin suffered severe internal injuries, including the loss of both of his kidneys, as a result of the alleged beatings he suffered while detained by Iranian security forces. In the 13 months following his release, Barzin’s health deteriorated, he fell unconscious numerous times and required repeated visits to the doctor.
Iranian security officials have reportedly brought pressure to bear on Hamzezadeh’s family to keep the news quiet.
Hengaw’s Statistics and Documentation Centre has recorded over 300 children arrested by Iranian security services in various Kurdish cities during the protests.
