The brother of Iranian physician Hamid Qarahasanlou says interrogators severly tortured his brother’s spouse to extract a confession from her in opposition to her husband as safety forces seemed to pin the blame on protesters for the loss of life of a member of the Basij paramilitary pressure throughout nationwide demonstrations.
Iran’s judiciary stated on December 6 that it had sentenced 16 individuals to sentences starting from long-term imprisonment to loss of life for his or her alleged roles within the killing of Ruhollah Ajamian, who was a part of the Basij, a volunteer militia below the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Hamid Qarahasanlou, who’s in hospital recovering after reportedly being tortured as properly, was one among 5 accused to be handed loss of life sentences over the killing of Ajamian.
Qarahasanlu’s brother stated in an interview with RFERL’s Radio Farda that, through the interrogations, Farzaneh, Hamid’s spouse, was tortured to the purpose the place to save lots of herself, she lied and stated that her husband could have kicked the sufferer.
“She resisted the primary day. On the second day, they informed her that we all know your son is within the dormitory of Tabriz College, and should you do not confess by tonight that Hamid hit the sufferer, we’ll arrest your son and he’ll endure the identical torture that you’re struggling, and he could also be killed,” Farzaneh Qarahasanlou’s brother in legislation informed Radio Farda.
“That is the one proof they’ve in opposition to Hamid, and Farzaneh later recanted the assertion and informed the court docket that her confession was obtained below torture and has no validity,” he added.
Hassan Qarahasanlou additionally informed Radio Farda that the judicial authorities threatened their legal professionals and at last, upon the withdrawal of the legal professionals, they pressured them to just accept a public defender.
“The general public defender spoke in opposition to my brother in court docket. He informed Hamid that you’re mendacity, and that you simply hit Ajamian and weren’t tortured.”
In keeping with Qarahasanlou’s brother, the general public defender personally went to the hospital the place Hamid was admitted and with out bearing in mind medical opinions, decided that Hamid Qarahasanlou was able to showing in court docket.
“The forensic physician had stated that Hamid couldn’t be current within the court docket, that he couldn’t also have a video name. That’s why he was absent from the primary session of the trial, however nonetheless, they took him to the court docket for the second session,” Hassan Qarahasanlou stated.
Prosecutors stated Ajamian, 27, was stripped bare and killed by a bunch of mourners who had been paying tribute to a slain protester, Hadis Najafi, throughout ceremonies marking the fortieth day since her loss of life.
The 4 others sentenced to loss of life weren’t named. Of the 11 individuals sentenced within the case, three had been minors, judiciary spokesman Massud Setayeshi informed a information convention, including that the sentences may be appealed.
Hamid Qarahasanlou, who’s a radiologist, was critically injured through the arrest and interrogation.
In keeping with his brother, one among Hamid’s ribs was damaged throughout detention and 5 extra throughout interrogation. Lastly, these fractures resulted in inner bleeding and he was taken to hospital.
After Qarahasanlou regained consciousness following surgical procedure, judicial authorities got here to the hospital in the course of the night time to wake him and hand him the loss of life sentence, Hassan Qarahasanlou stated.
The circumstances had been rushed by three hearings inside six days earlier than the sentences had been handed down.
Human rights organizations have strongly objected to the loss of life sentences being issued in opposition to protesters in Iran after “sham trials.”
The decision comes after weeks of elevated threats by authorities that they’ll react harshly to any unrest. Lawmakers have pushed the judiciary to render harsh penalties — together with the loss of life penalty — in trials for these arrested throughout protests over the loss of life of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
The Mizan information company, which is affiliated with the judiciary, reported on December 8 that 24-year-old Mohsen Shekhari had turn out to be the primary protester to be executed after an enchantment of his sentence was rejected by the Supreme Courtroom.
Iran is at the moment within the throes of unrest as individuals take to the streets throughout the nation to protest Amini’s loss of life on September 16.
Police have met the unrest with lethal pressure.
The activist HRANA information company stated that, as of November 29, no less than 459 protesters had been killed through the unrest, together with 64 minors, as safety forces attempt to stifle widespread dissent.
The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Group says the variety of executions in Iran exceeds 500 this yr.
