Sattar Beheshti’s Family Ask for Protection To Come Forward With Lawsuit Against Torture Culprits
Beheshti, a 35 year old blogger, was arrested on October 30 at his home in Robat Karim near Tehran. On November 6 authorities contacted his family, informing them of his death in custody without further explanation.
A source close to the family of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger whose family was informed of his death in custody on November 6, told the International Campaign that “If we know that we are supported by an organization and that our lives are safe and that they will not take us like Sattar to beat, abuse, and torture psychologically and physically…we would file a lawsuit against those who caused this incident.”
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has been informed that during the days following the announcement of Sattar Beheshti’s death in detention, security forces have refrained from offering any explanations about why he lost his life. Furthermore, his family has been repeatedly threatened with grave consequences, should they talk to the media. Additionally, during the time his family appeared at the Medical Examiner’s morgue to identify his body, forces tried the cut their viewing time to a minimum. Even so, the family and the Medical Examiner staff observed the presence of blood and several bruises on his body, as well as a dent in his head.
Security forces even interfered in the funeral and carried the body on their own shoulders, were present during the funeral, and strove to rush the burial through. “We have fear in our hearts, because Sattar’s death has sent tremors into our hearts. His sudden death is really painful. Sattar’s mother has refused her food and medicine for days and has cried so much, she has no more tears.”
Beheshti, a 35 year old blogger, was arrested on October 30 at his home in Robat Karim near Tehran. On November 6 authorities contacted his family, informing them of his death in custody without further explanation.
“We request of the Parliament Members in whom we believe, to pursue this murder. We ask the MP from Robat Karim to pursue this murder. We ask the state officials to seek justice for Sattar’s spilled blood. They took a healthy Sattar, and they delivered his corpse. He was his mother’s companion and the family’s breadwinner, and was not affiliated with any groups. He talked for his own heart and his people. If we know that we are supported, we will definitely file a lawsuit,” he said about the wishes of Sattar Beheshti’s family to investigate his murder.
“Sattar had never been prosecuted nor imprisoned before, and he did not have a ruling [against him]. We are sure that Sattar was murdered under severe torture blows. We demand that his innocent blood is not spilled in vein, and that those responsible are punished for their actions. We do not shed tears and have sworn not to cry until the culprits have come to justice. Do not let Sattar’s blood be wasted. He spoke from his and the people’s hearts and he should not have been treated this way, tortured so ruthlessly and murdered like this. All this without any orders, trials, or conviction. All the people who are responsible for Sattar’s death must be punished. From the person who took him handcuffed to the person who stuck Sattar with that last blow. We must ask on what orders? Why? What happened?…Sattar was innocent and pure and spoke from people’s hearts, he was patriotic, he didn’t deserve to receive severe blows under torture,” the source added, stating that Sattar Beheshti’s family believe he lost his life under torture.
“We have bent under the pain of our loved one’s sudden loss, and no one can hear us. We ask all authorities to hear our voices and to seek justice for the innocent blood of our loved one.”
In a November 8 press release, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran asked the Iranian Judiciary to immediately conduct an investigation into the death of the young blogger, Sattar Beheshti, who died during prison interrogations, and to introduce the individuals responsible in this sad incident and to make them accountable.
The Iranian Judiciary Spokesperson Explains Sattar Beheshti’s Cause of Death
At his weekly press conference, the Iranian Judiciary’s Spokesperson and the Prosecutor General Mohseni Ejei, told reporters on Monday that the prison authorities found Beheshti dead when they tried to serve him lunch inside his cell on November 3. Mohseni Ejehi told the reporters that the Medical Examiner has documented five bruises on Beheshti’s body, but no fractured bones, blood clots, or other unusual marks have been observed on the body, and that overall, no “suspicious signs” have been observed in the deceased as a result of the autopsy. “The question arises of whether Sattar Beheshti had a heart condition? This issue must be investigated…” said Mohseni Ejehi.
Mohseni Ejehi further cast doubt on the authenticity of a hand-written letter Sattar Beheshti wrote to prison authorities during his brief stay at Evin Prison’s Ward 350, filing an official grievance against the individuals who had tortured him during his interrogations.
