Torture, Medical Negligence, and Psychological Abuse as Methods of Covert Execution
In recent months, Iranian authorities have intensified their use of torture, denial of medical care, and psychological abuse as systematic methods to exert control over detainees, particularly those involved in the 2022 nationwide protests. This escalation comes alongside a sharp increase in executions, with 178 prisoners executed in October 2024 alone. Beyond the surge in executions, the regime employs various covert methods to murder prisoners, including physical torture, deliberate medical negligence, and psychological pressure that drives detainees to suicide. This report highlights numerous cases where prisoners—both political and non-political—have died under suspicious circumstances in detention facilities, with evidence suggesting state complicity in their deaths.
Deaths Due to Torture in Detention
Iman Hassanvand – Tortured to Death by Intelligence Agents
On January 13, 2024, 30-year-old Iman Hassanvand from Khorramabad died after enduring 114 days of brutal torture by agents of the Tehran Intelligence Agency. Arrested on September 21, 2023, during a raid on his home, Iman was violently taken into custody. His family was later informed of his death, with officials threatening them not to disclose the incident to the media.
Barzin Hamzehzadeh – Teenage Protester Tortured to Death
Barzin Hamzehzadeh, a minor from Sardasht, was detained at the age of 15 during the 2022 protests. After being tortured for a week, he sustained severe internal injuries, leading to kidney failure. Despite medical intervention, he died on January 2, 2024, after 13 months of suffering. Barzin’s family confirmed that he was healthy before his detention, but the torture left him severely injured, eventually leading to his death.
Mehran Akrami – Killed Under Torture in Saqqez Prison
On March 13, 2024, 32-year-old Mehran Akrami, a protester detained since November 2022, was murdered under torture in Saqqez Prison. The severity of the beatings led to kidney failure. Despite being hospitalized, he was forcibly returned to prison, where he died. His family observed visible signs of trauma, including fractures and severe injuries to his head and face.
Suspicious Death of Aryan Qorbaninezhad in Shahreza Prison
Eighteen-year-old Aryan Qorbaninezhad died under suspicious circumstances on November 22, 2023, just two days after being detained for alcohol consumption. Officials claimed his death was due to suicide, but signs of severe head trauma suggest otherwise.
Deaths Due to Medical Negligence
Jamshid Arbabi (Gorgij) – Delayed Medical Treatment in Zahedan Prison
On January 2, 2024, 36-year-old Jamshid Arbabi died in Zahedan Prison due to heart failure after being denied timely medical care. Despite experiencing severe symptoms at 12:30 a.m., he was taken to a hospital three hours later, where he was declared dead upon arrival.
Khasmorad Saeedi – Inadequate Medical Facilities in Ghezel Hessar Prison
A 60-year-old death row inmate, Khasmorad Saeedi, died on January 16, 2024, due to inadequate medical care in Ghezel Hessar Prison. Despite his deteriorating condition, authorities delayed transferring him to a hospital, leading to his death.
Ruhollah Mohammadi – Ignored Hospital Transfer Requests in Urmia Prison
On August 6, 2024, 48-year-old Ruhollah Mohammadi died after authorities refused to transfer him to an outside hospital. He had been serving a seven-year sentence for drug-related charges and was in critical condition when prison officials ignored medical advice.
Psychological and Physical Pressures Leading to Suicides
Komail Zandkhani – Driven to Suicide After Continuous Harassment
On February 8, 2024, 19-year-old Komail Zandkhani from Ilam committed suicide after being repeatedly summoned and threatened by the Intelligence Office. Previously detained during the 2022 protests, Komail had attempted suicide due to severe psychological pressure. Following a series of threats, he ended his life by jumping from a building.
Shaahin Galehdari – Political Prisoner Ends His Life in Urmia
On February 25, 2024, political prisoner Shaahin Galehdari committed suicide in Urmia Prison. He had been enduring a two-year sentence for charges related to national security. The psychological pressure and harsh prison conditions reportedly drove him to take his own life.
Alireza Khari – Suicide Following Continuous Summons
On March 19, 2024, protester Alireza Khari from Bandar Gaz committed suicide after enduring ongoing harassment from Revolutionary Guards. Following his release from prison, he was subjected to continuous threats, which ultimately pushed him to take his own life.
Deaths Misrepresented as Natural Causes or Suicide
Hamzeh Barahuei – Death of a Baluch Prisoner in Zahedan
On February 11, 2024, Baluch prisoner Hamzeh Barahuei died in Zahedan Prison under suspicious circumstances. Authorities have attempted to prevent news of his death from reaching the public.
Javad Rouhi – Death Attributed to Forced Drug Administration
In September 2023, Javad Rouhi died in Noshahr Prison. A forensic report revealed that his death resulted from forced drug injections administered by prison staff. Rouhi, who had been sentenced to multiple death penalties for participating in the 2022 protests, died under dubious circumstances that suggest intentional neglect or covert murder.
Mahnaaz Tarrah – Suicide Attempt in Evin Prison
Political prisoner Mahnaaz Tarrah attempted suicide by consuming pills in Evin Prison on July 23, 2024. Despite her critical condition, she was returned to the prison after hospitalization. Her case reflects the extreme pressures faced by political detainees, particularly women, in Iran’s detention facilities.
Cases of Suicide Due to Harsh Prison Conditions
Hossein Jalali – Suicide in Ghezel Hessar Prison
On February 26, 2024, Hossein Jalali, a drug offender serving a 25-year sentence, committed suicide by taking pills. Authorities delayed transferring him to the hospital, resulting in his death before receiving any medical care.
Ahmad Kurdbacheh – Attempted Suicide in Khurin Prison
On March 12, 2024, Ahmad Kurdbacheh attempted suicide in Khurin Prison due to his dire conditions. He had protested against the lack of addiction support services in prison, which contributed to his deteriorating mental state.
Abdolaziz Golmohammadi – Suicide Due to Denial of Furlough
Kurdish political prisoner Abdolaziz Golmohammadi ended his life on April 23, 2024, by ingesting pills after officials at Urmia Prison denied his furlough request.
Women and Minority Detainees Targeted for Covert Killings
Unnamed Female Prisoner in Tehran – Mysterious Death
In early 2024, an unidentified female prisoner sentenced to death for murder died under unknown circumstances in Tehran’s women’s ward. Authorities refused to disclose her identity or the cause of death.
Suspicious Deaths in Lakan Prison, Rasht
Several inmates, including Soheil Haqbin, reportedly died due to excessive administration of psychiatric drugs. The authorities claimed these deaths were suicides, yet evidence suggests misuse of medication as a method to control and eliminate prisoners.
Covert State Executions as a Tool of Repression
These cases are part of a broader pattern of systematic abuse within Iran’s detention facilities, where authorities resort to both overt and covert means to eliminate dissenters. Beyond the sharp increase in officially recorded executions, the regime uses torture, medical neglect, and psychological pressure to effectively murder prisoners while avoiding public scrutiny. By masking these deaths as suicides or natural causes, the state maintains plausible deniability, evading accountability on the international stage.
The continued suppression of information, threats against families, and manipulation of forensic reports point to a deliberate effort by the Iranian regime to conceal the true scale of atrocities within its prisons. It is imperative for the international community to take immediate action, ensuring that these human rights violations are exposed, and that justice is sought for the victims and their families.
