Section 3
Victims of Torture and Death in Prisons
Torture as a Tool of Systematic Repression
Since the establishment of the mullahs’ regime in Iran, the country’s prisons have functioned not merely as centers for implementing judicial rulings but as hubs of systematic torture, intimidation, and physical elimination of dissidents. International bodies, including the UN Special Rapporteur, have repeatedly reported the regime’s use of “white torture”, long-term solitary confinement, sexual assault, and suspicious deaths in custody.
Documented Cases of Victims
| Name of Victim | Year of Death | Location | Description |
| Zahra Kazemi | 2003 | Evin Prison | Iranian-Canadian journalist killed in custody by intelligence agents; signs of torture reported on her skull. |
| Sattar Beheshti | 2012 | FATA Cyber Police | Blogger who died under torture less than 48 hours after his arrest. |
| Sina Ghanbari | 2018 | Evin Prison | Detainee from the January 2018 protests; alleged to have “committed suicide” in a prison bathroom; family called the death suspicious. |
| Vahid Heydari | 2018 | Arak | Street vendor arrested on fabricated charges who died in detention. |
| Mostafa Abdi (Darvish) | 2018 | Greater Tehran Prison | Reports of severe beatings during his detention. |
| Mohammad Jarahi | 2017 | Tabriz | Labor activist who developed cancer after years of imprisonment and physical abuse; his release came too late. |
| Alireza Shir-Mohammadi | 2019 | Fashafouyeh Prison | Political prisoner murdered in a ward for dangerous criminals; his repeated complaints had been ignored. |
Kahrizak: Symbol of State-Ordered Atrocities
During the 2009 post-election protests, dozens of detainees were transferred to the illegal Kahrizak detention center, where many were tortured under direct orders from judicial and security authorities. Key victims include:
- Mohsen Rouholamini
- Amir Javadifar
- Mohammad Kamrani
The death of these young men due to torture was even acknowledged by regime-affiliated entities. However, the main perpetrators, including Saeed Mortazavi, were only theatrically tried and essentially acquitted.
White Torture and Psychological Harm
Beyond physical torture, the regime uses white torture as a psychological weapon against prisoners of conscience. This includes:
- Prolonged solitary confinement
- Lack of contact with family
- Around-the-clock interrogations
- Threats of execution or harm to family members
Many prisoners suffer severe mental trauma even after their release.
Victims of Ideological Persecution, Minorities, and Medieval Sentencing
Blasphemy, faith, or being a woman – all grounds for death sentences
The judiciary of the ruling regime has not only been a tool for political repression but also a mechanism for persecuting people based on beliefs, religion, gender, and ethnicity. Dozens of Baha’is, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, Kurds, Baluchis, Christian converts, and women’s rights activists have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment, torture, or execution solely for their identity or beliefs.
Persecution of Religious Minorities
✦ Baha’is
Since 1979, dozens of Baha’is have been executed or forcibly disappeared. In recent decades, a renewed wave of repression has included:
- University bans
- Property confiscation
- Cemetery destruction
- Periodic and “security” arrests
Notable victims include Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, and other members of the “Yaran-e-Iran” group, who were imprisoned for years on fabricated charges of “acting against national security.”
✦ Sunni Muslims
Dozens of Sunni prisoners, mostly Kurds and Baluchis, have been executed on vague charges such as moharebeh (enmity against God) or alleged ties to Salafi groups, often without access to legal counsel. Prominent cases include:
- Loghman and Zaniar Moradi
- Shahram Ahmadi
- Mowlavi Abdolghaffar Naqshbandi (disappeared and later executed)
Executions of Sufis and the Suppression of Mysticism
The Gonabadi Dervishes, especially after the Golestan 7 Incident, were heavily targeted. Over 300 dervishes were arrested, with many sentenced to long imprisonment, exile, or torture. One such victim, Mohammad Salas, was executed under dubious charges and after severe torture. His exonerating evidence was never considered.
Imprisonment of Christian Converts and Nonconformists
In recent years, dozens of Christian converts have been arrested and imprisoned on charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security.” Many have been held in solitary confinement with their fundamental rights blatantly violated.
The next issue will focus on systematic misogyny within the judiciary and prisons of the ruling regime.
