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 drive throughout nationwide demonstrations.
Iran’s judiciary mentioned on December 6 that it had sentenced 16 folks 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 nicely, was one in all 5 accused to be handed loss of life sentences over the killing of Ajamian.
Qarahasanlu’s brother mentioned 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 mentioned that her husband might 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 in case you do not confess by tonight that Hamid hit the sufferer, we are going to arrest your son and he’ll undergo 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 courtroom 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 courtroom. He informed Hamid that you’re mendacity, and that you just hit Ajamian and weren’t tortured.”
In response to Qarahasanlou’s brother, the general public defender personally went to the hospital the place Hamid was admitted and with out making an allowance for medical opinions, decided that Hamid Qarahasanlou was able to showing in courtroom.
“The forensic physician had mentioned that Hamid couldn’t be current within the courtroom, 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 courtroom for the second session,” Hassan Qarahasanlou mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned 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 folks sentenced within the case, three have been minors, judiciary spokesman Massud Setayeshi informed a information convention, including that the sentences will be appealed.
Hamid Qarahasanlou, who’s a radiologist, was severely injured through the arrest and interrogation.
In response to his brother, one in all Hamid’s ribs was damaged throughout detention and 5 extra throughout interrogation. Lastly, these fractures resulted in inside 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 mentioned.
The circumstances have been rushed by three hearings inside six days earlier than the sentences have 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 may 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 into the primary protester to be executed after an attraction of his sentence was rejected by the Supreme Courtroom.
Iran is at the moment within the throes of unrest as folks take to the streets throughout the nation to protest Amini’s loss of life on September 16.
Police have met the unrest with lethal drive.
The activist HRANA information company mentioned that, as of November 29, at the least 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.
