A 30-year-old Iranian Kurd has died after allegedly being severely tortured by the Tehran police. Iman Hasanvand, a resident of Khorramabad in the province of Lorestan in western Iran, had been detained for four months and died on Saturday under intense interrogation, the Kurdistan Human Rights Association reported.
A report by the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights details the events surrounding Hasanvand’s death and sheds light on the circumstances he endured during his 114 days in detention.
Hasanvand was forcibly arrested by Criminal Investigation Department forces during a raid on his home on 21 September 2023. During the raid, his friend Majid Rezaie, 32, was fatally shot in the head while allegedly trying to escape from the police.
Hasanvand was also seriously injured during the arrest and reportedly in a critical condition, but he was not transferred to a medical centre. According to rights groups, the severity of his injuries ultimately led to his death, after months of suffering.
A video recording of the arrest, now in the possession of Hengaw, reveals a security officer shouting at the injured and already detained Hasanvand.
It was further noted by Hengaw that both Rezaie and Hasanvand were friends of another victim, Iman Hemmati, who was shot in the head and killed by Tehran police forces on 22 May 2023.
Hasanvand’s family was informed of his death by the security forces, who also warned of the possible consequences of any publicity.
