Evin Prison Doctor Who Wrote Report On Dead Blogger Sattar Beheshti’s Torture Death Arrested

Evin prison physician who had examined the injured Sattar Beheshti (the blogger who died under torture while in custody) has been arrested and detained in the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 in Evin prison.

According to Kaleme site, Dr. Reza Pourhaydar, the Evin physician was the doctor on duty at the medical clinic in Evin on the day that Sattar Beheshti was taken there.

According to prison’s regulations, every new prisoner arrived at the prison must be sent to the prison clinic for examination and a medical file is created for that prisoner.

When Sattar Beheshti arrived at Evin, according to the regulations he was sent to the infirmary and was examined by Dr. Pourhaydar. His report of the examination indicated the signs of beatings and torture on Beheshti’s body.

After this report was prepared by Dr. Pourhaydar he no longer was permitted to examine other Ward 350 political prisoners and was transferred to the ward for prisoners convicted on financial charges.

Dr. Pourhaydar was arrested last week and imprisoned in the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin prison.

Last week it was reported that an informed source in the case of Sattar Beheshti has said that the family of Sattar Beheshti have recently found out that the forensic report indicated bleeding of the lungs, liver, kidney and cerebellum. According to this informed source the coroner’s report that is included in Sattar’s file leaves no doubts that the cause of Sattar Beheshti’s death was due to internal bleeding and brain hemorrhaging.

In September of last year, the coroner’s report claimed that Sattar Beheshti’s death was caused due to stress. At the same time, political prisoner Abolfazl Abedini, who was incarcerated in Ward 350 and had seen Sattar’s condition, was summoned to the special prosecutor’s office as a witness and interrogated and threatened to be exiled several times. Ultimately this threat was carried out and Abedini was exiled to Ahvaz Karoon prison.

This form of confronting and dealing with witnesses has a long history. The most famous persecution and illegal actions against a witness was the case of Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani, the physician who had examined victims of the torture deaths in Kahrizak detention center prior to their death. This 26 year old physician died under suspicious circumstances at his place of work in November of 2009.

Initially, the officials announced this young physician’s cause of death as a heart attack, then as suicide, and ultimately, the coroner’s office announced the cause of death as poisoning. Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani was buried without his family being allowed an autopsy.

Sources close to Dr. Pournandarjani say that, prior to his death, he had disclosed details of the torture death of the Kahrizak detention center’s victims. According to these sources, Dr. Pournandarjani had testified as a witness before Parliament’s Special Committee members formed to deal with the status and situation of the victims of the post-election events.

It seems that putting pressure on the witnesses and doctors is one of the methods that the intelligence officials resort to for escaping the crisis they create.

The Intelligence and Judicial authorities, instead of prosecuting the people responsible for the torture death of Sattar Beheshti, have put on their agenda persecuting the people who exposed this crime, and arresting of Dr. Pourhaydar fits this agenda.

The arrest of Dr. Pourhaydar has created much concerns for the other Evin prison physicians, that in the event they report on the torture of prisoners the same fate awaits them.

According to the political prisoners in Evin, Dr. Pourhaydar despite the existence of security atmosphere at Evin prison’s medical clinic had not forgotten his oath and despite the efforts by some of the clinic’s personnel to stop him from doing his job properly always provided care and treatment for the sick prisoners.

Source: Kaleme

HR activist Abolfazl Abedini Launches A Hunger Strike After Sudden Transfer to Ahvaz Karoon Prison

On Saturday afternoon, Abolfazl Abedini, imprisoned human rights activist and a witness in the torture death case of blogger Sattar Beheshti (blogger who was killed under torture while in custody), was unexpectedly, and without prior notice, transferred from Evin prison to Karoon prison in Ahvaz.

Abolfazl Abedini had testified before Shahriyari, the magistrate investigating the torture death case of Sattar Beheshti, that he had witnessed signs of torture on Behesht’s body while Beheshti was in Ward 350 .

Abedini, protesting his sudden transfer from Evin to Karoon prison, announced he will launch an open-ended hunger strike and will remain on one until he is transferred back to Evin.

Previously Abedini, while giving a statement to the magistrate, had voiced concern about his testimony causing troubles for him, but was assured by the magistrate that it would not.

At that same time, head of Evin Court attempted to transfer Abedini to Ahvaz Karoon prison but failed. But now, the new head of Evin Court, Tourk, has carried out the transfer.

Tourk was the Ahvaz trial judge that tried and sentenced Abedini to 11 years imprisonment because of human rights activism.

Abedini was transferred to Karoon prison last fall after testifying in Beheshti’s case, but was returned to Evin shortly after on the order of Tehran’s District Attorney.

Abolfazl Abedini, a human rights and labor rights activist, was tried in April 2010 in the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment on charges of association with hostile governments, human rights activism and propaganda against the establishment through giving interviews to foreign press.

He was again tried in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Moghayeseh, and sentenced to an additional one year imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the establishment, even though this charge was already included in his previous trial and he was already imprisoned at that time of the new trial.

Despite suffering from a heart condition, Abedini has been serving time in Ward 6 of Karoon prison in Ahvaz and in Evin Ward 350 without being granted furlough.

Source: Kaleme

Sattar Beheshti’s Mother: “Exhume my Son’s Body And Perform Autopsy Under UN Supervision”

In an interview with Saham news, Satar Beheshti’s mother, reacted to the Coroner’s report that classified the death of her son as “death due to psychological pressure and not due to blows inflicted by the interrogators”, asked for her son’s body to be exhumed.

Satar Beheshti’s mother asked the Court and high ranking Judiciary officials to exhume her son’s body, and that an independent autopsy be performed under the supervision of trusted doctors and the United Nation doctors.

Months after the death in custody of Sattar Beheshti, the Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Ahmad Shojaei, claimed that the expert forensic examination provided two possible causes of death, death due to psychological pressure and trauma to the body due to blows received. After further examining these possibilities, the medical examiners announced the blows received by Sattar Beheshti were not fatal and could have not been the cause of his death.

The Chief Medical Examiner also claims that Sattar Beheshti did not receive blows to the sensitive parts of his body, and that toxicology tests found no abnormalities to indicate his death as “unnatural”.

Sattar Beheshti’s mother expressing concern over the statements made by the officials, told Saham news that, “At this point we have no information on the progress of Sattar’s case file. Neither we nor his lawyer have been able to review the case file, and whenever we questioned the progress of the case, we did not get an answer.”

Goher Eshghi, Sattar Beheshti’s mother, responded to Saham’s question as to whether Sattar’s case is progressing in a normal manner, as follows: “Prior to Sattar’s 40th day passing ceremonies, we were invited by the investigator to go to his office. He had four men in the same interrogation room as I, my daughter and Sattar’s lawyer.

He said three of the men are charged with dereliction of duty and one, Sattar’s chief interrogator, is the prime suspect . This was the same guy, that I always talk about, that came to our home ” in a pink shirt” and arrested Sattar.

They told us he was Sattar’s chief interrogator. I only asked him two questions; “What was Sattar doing when he was being tortured? What did he tell you when he was under torture?”

He answered, “When I was hitting Sattar, he kept laughing, I became very angry and kept hitting him until he died.”

When a defendant makes such a confession in front of the investigator, what else is left for the investigator to investigate? Is the investigator trying to exonerate the defendant? Or is he trying to buy time?”

Sattar’s mother says that the District Attorney’s office is neglecting this case. She said, “They refuse to give us any answers. Before they used to come and visit us every so often. But now, they have either, on their own reached the conclusion that they should act indifferent towards us, or they have been ordered to do so.”

Mrs. Gohar Eshghi, responding to the various statements made by the District Attorney, the Medical Examiner’s office, and the Parliamentary Commission, and to clarify the truth about what Sattar endured, said, “I am dismayed and saddened that, when in front of me and Sattar’s lawyer, a defendant confessed to extreme torture and the killing of Sattar, the Attorney General, instead of enforcing the law and acting as the head the law enforcement, is instead supporting lawlessness.

I, as Sattar’s mother, in order to put an end to these conflicting actions and statements, hereby, ask the Court and the Judiciary officials, to exhume my son’s body, and to perform an autopsy under the supervision of trusted doctors and the United Nations doctors.”

Expressing disappointment about her Son’s case and a possibility of the same result as the Kahrizak case, she adds, “I am worried when I see what happened to the Kahrizak case when they only sentenced Tehran’s district attorney to 200,000 Tomans fine (about $60.00).”

Gohar Eshghi continues by addressing the District Attorney, saying, “The seat you occupy will not last forever, just like it wasn’t for Mr. Mortazavi. I give you a mother’s advice, do not sacrifice your hereafter life for others’ earthly interests.

If in this life I am pressured and threatened and deprived of justice, be certain that, when in the presence of God, I will seek justice.”

Sattar Beheshti’s mother, denied having a Facebook account, and said, “A number of people with various methods tried to get close to us, and of course, there are those that with the intension of monitoring our activities, tried to get close to us.

We have nothing to hide. I have said it before, and now say it again, under 4 days of torture they killed my Sattar and we are not afraid of repeating this. The only one who should be afraid is the torturer that is being protected; he who has been unfaithful to us, to the people and to the system.

Now we have heard that some people have opened a Facebook page in our name claiming it is connected to us. I emphasize that this is not true and we are in no way connected to this page.

We have heard that some people are collecting contributions in the name of helping Sattar’s family. We strongly state that we have not requested nor have we received any help.”

At the conclusion of this interview, Sattar’s mother said, “If the gentlemen claim that Sattar was not killed due to torture, then they should comply with our request for exhuming his body. For, if Sattar was not killed due to torture, then why was his burial shroud bloodied?

Why was his face bruised? Why did they not deliver his body to us? Why have they put us under so much pressure? Why have they threatened us so much? Why did they force me to sign a consent form? I wish they would have send my son’s case to court for a trial before asked me for consent.”

Sattar Beheshti, a laborer and a blogger from Robat Karim, was arrested by the cyber police due to his writings critical of the government/. He was arrested on October 30, 2012 and was initially transferred to Evin prison in Tehran, but was four days later transferred to the police station detention center where he died under torture.

Before burial, Sattar’s family had seen signs of injuries and bruises on his body. In his first comments regarding Sattar, the Judiciary Spokesman, Mohsenei Ejee had confirmed the existence of bruises on Sattar’s body but later heart failure was given as cause of death.

source: SahamNews

More information about Sattar Beheshti’s case “here”

Sattar Beheshti’s 40th Day Passing Memorial Services Raided, His Mother Beaten And Injured

Attendees at Sattar Beheshti’s 40th day passing memorial services were beaten and several were arrested.

According to the Human Rights News Agency in Iran, the 40th day passing memorial services of Sattar Beheshti at the Imam Mohamad Taghi Shrine in Robat Karim was raided by security agents resulting in beatings and arrests of Sattar’s family and a number of attendees.

Following the request by Sattar Beheshti’s mother and sister for the participants to go from the Shrine to Sattar’s sister’s home for the services, security forces and Plainclothes forces attacked the participants.

Five security officers also attacked and beat Sattar’s elderly mother causing her to sustain leg and knee injuries.

One of the participants at the services told HRANA that the agents were dragging Sattar’s mother on the ground by her hair.

Sattar’s brother, Asghar Beheshti, was also arrested while he was inviting people to his sister’s home. He was kept in detention for two hours.

Another participant in the services has reported that Ahmad Taghavi was arrested. The exact number of people arrested at the services is not yet known.

Source: HRANA

Sattar Beheshti’s Mother: They Showed Me My Son’s Murderers And Threatened To Arrest My Daughter

35 year old blogger, Sattar Beheshti was arrested on October 30, 2012 at his home in Robat Karim. On November 6, 2012 his family was informed by authorities of his death while in custody, without giving further explanation or the cause of death.

Gohar Eshghi, Sattar Beheshti’s mother, in an interview with Deutsche Welle spoke about how under threats the security agents obtained her consent.

Following is the text of the interview with Gohar Eshghi by Deutsche Welle:

In recent days there has been news reports that your family was pressured to give consent and release from responsibility people responsible for Sattar Beheshti’s death. What was the story, and how did you give them your consent?

Three days after his 7th day of passing (traditionally there is memorial services on the 7th day after passing), they took me to see his murderers. Then, when there, they showed me a warrant for arrest of my daughter and threatened me. I had to sign (the consent form), I didn’t want to lose another child.

You mean to say you saw the murderers of your son?

Yes, the three people that came to our house (during arrest of Sattar), I saw them. I recognized them.

Are you saying that right there and then they told you if you didn’t give them your signature they would arrest your other children?

Only my daughter, they had a warrant for my daughter’s arrest. They told me to either sign the consent (form) or they would arrest her. I was forced to do it. I didn’t want to have to mourn again. I didn’t want them to arrest my daughter and take her with them. I was under their threat when I signed. They repeatedly threatened me, and I was forced to sign.

Exactly when, and who were the authorities that threatened to arrest your daughter, if you didn’t give your consent?

They were security forces. It was from the security forces. They said, “If you don’t sign, we have your daughter’s arrest warrant.” They threatened me and I had to sign (the consent form).

Is the family still under pressure about releasing information regarding Sattar Beheshti’s death and giving press interviews?

Yes, they contacted my son-in-law and told him not to give press interviews. They even came here and told us not to talk with anyone and not to give interviews.

What about the burial services? You had disclosed that the agents did not let the family perform the washing of the body (the ritual cleansing bath before burial), and you had said that his burial shroud was bloodied. What was their excuse for not letting the family perform the burial services?

The security forces told us, “For your own protection, do not participate in the burial services.”

It has been announced that lawyer Mrs. Gitti Pourfazel has accepted the case of Sattar Beheshti’s death. How and why did she accept to take this case?

One month before Sattar was arrested, he gave me Mrs. Pourfazel’s phone number and said that if he was arrested, I could contact this attorney for her to arrange our visits in prison.

Mrs. Eshghi, tell us about your son, Sattar Beheshti’s activism and his writings on his blog.

Sattar Beheshti was independent and not affiliated with any groups. He wrote for Iran, for the labor force in Iran, and for the people of Iran. He was not affiliated with any group. He only wrote about the hardships of the labor force in Iran, and for Iran.

He was Iranian and a patriot. He only wrote about Iranian labor force and about Iran. My son was not affiliated with any group. I will stand up to anyone who wants to exploit my son’s name.

There are conflicts in the accounts and explanations of cause of death given by the coroner’s office and the police. The Police Commander said “Beatings and aberrations resulting from beatings and poisoning was not the cause of death”, and the main cause of death was “psychological shock”. While the coroner gave a different account. The coroner said the cause of death was due to trauma from blows received. Have you heard these comments?

I do not accept these explanations. Did the roof or the wall crash on my son to cause his death? Or did the lice in prison torture my son to cause his death? The cyber police agents tortured and killed my child, my Sattar.

If there is anything else you would like to say about your son’s death please tell us.

My dear son, you all are my sons. I beg of you to echo my voice to the Red Cross, the United Nations and human rights organizations. Ask them to peruse my son’s case and not to let his death be in vain. Don’t let his name be forgotten, and seek justice for his spilled blood.

I live with his pictures in a 40 square meter house. His pictures adorn all the walls. I wish there was a cameraman to film this. I will never forget my son.

Sattar was Iranian and he died an Iranian. He was not affiliated with any groups. He was independent and only cared about Iran. If anyone intends to exploit my son’s name I will not remain silent and will shut them up.

My Sattar did not belong to any group. He was patriotic and loved Iran, and lost his life for Iran. I ask that he always be remembered with high regards. Please tell the media to keep repeating that he did not belong to any group, so everyone knows. So everyone understands that he was not affiliated with any group. He gave his life for Iran, that is all.

Source: DW

A Report From The Burial Of Blogger Sattar Beheshti Killed Under Torture In Custody

35 years old blogger, Sattar Beheshti was arrested on October 30 at his home in Robat Karim. His family was contacted by authorities on November 6th informing them of his death in custody without giving any further explanation or the cause of death.

Sattar Beheshti

Following is an interview with an eye witness conducted by Saham News:

Saham News: An eye witness who attended Sattar Beheshti’s funeral told Saham News that Beheshti’s body showed visible signs on injuries.

According to this witness, Sattar Beheshti’s leg and knees were bloody, his face was bruised and he had head injuries.

According to this witness, Sattar Beheshti’s face and head showed signs of severe injuries and his shroud was blood soaked.

Unfortunately the officers did not allow his family to see his body prior to burial. Only for a few minutes after they placed the body in the grave, they removed the shroud from his face. According to this witness Beheshti’s face was bruised and head showed visible signs of severe injuries that they had tried to cover-up with plaster.

The severity of the assault and battery that Beheshti suffered was very visible on his body and was observed during the ritual cleansing bath of his body.

According to Saham News, Sattar Beheshti was buried at the Shrine of Mohammad Taghi in Robat Karim, section 7, row 3, grave number 11.

Also, despite threats from officials, a memorial ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday at his grave site at the Shrine of Mohammad Taghi in Robat Karim .

In the last few days, the officials have been threatening the family not to hold any memorial services for this Green activist.

According to Saham News, a large number of agents were present in various locations at the Shrine of Mohammad Taghi during the burial services. They were video taping the crowd and, in some cases, confronting the people who were speaking on their cell phones.

Also, there are reports that a large number of agents are present in the neighborhood were Sattar lived. They have also removed and collected all the banners and posters relating to Sattar’s death and memorial services.

All contact with Beheshti’s family have been cut off.

Saham News also reports that during a phone interview yesterday with Sattar Beheshti’s sister, agents entered her home and handcuffed her and the phone line was disconnected. They detained Sahar Beheshti for a while and warned her not to speak with the media.

Sattar Beheshti’s father was also present at the burial services, and was crying out with loud voice, “Do not cry for my son, for if he had committed a sin he was killed justly, but if he was unjustly killed then God will avenge his death.”

According to eye witnesses, yesterday when Sattar’s brother-in-law went to collect his body from the medical examiner’s office, the agents confiscated his cell phone and, each time a reporter called, they pretended to be him, telling the reporters that Sattar is alive and is in a hospital.

Source: Sahamnews