The ill-treatment of prisoners in Iran has once again been brought to light in the past month with the deaths of four prisoners who lost their lives under torture from prison officials. Despite calls from the international community and human rights activists around the world about human rights abuses, Iranian prisoners continue to suffer at the hands of the brutal regime.

Torture and inhumane treatment of detainees and prisoners by agents has always been one of the most serious violations of human rights in Iran.

Amir Hossein Hatami, aged 22, was killed at the Greater Tehran Penitentiary on September 23 under torture by prison guards, who severely beat his head with batons.

Shahin Naseri was housed in the same prison as Hatami and lost his life on September 21. He had been a witness to the executed wrestling champion Navid Afkari and had told how he had been threatened by the court judge for giving his testimonies. Following his death, sources close to Naseri’s family recalled how his body had visible bruises and a head injury, indicating signs of torture.

The family of Yaser Mangouri was informed of his death by officials from the Ministry of Intelligence on September 8 in Urumieh, West Azerbaijan province, while Hadi Attazadeh lost his life hours after being flogged in the city of Ahar for drinking alcohol.

In all cases, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has denied reports of mental and physical torture of prisoners and, by reversing or concealing the truth, has refused to accept responsibility for the lives of prisoners.

As these cases of torture continue to take place in Iran, and despite outrage and complaints from the families of the victims, as well as domestic and international communities, no official is being held accountable or brought to justice.

Amnesty International has stated that this, “reflects Iran’s long-standing crisis of impunity where allegations of torture and unlawful killings consistently go un-investigated and unpunished.”

They said in a recent statement that since January 2010, the regime has failed to account for at least 72 deaths in custody. This is despite credible reports being readily available, which have highlighted that these deaths were the result of torture or the fatal use of firearms and tear gas.

Iran HRM has called for officials from the United Nations to visit Iranian prisoners and to launch an investigation into the deaths of prisoners, including the four men who lost their lives in the past month.

In September, at least 38 death sentences were carried out in Iranian prisons. At least 12 executions were carried out for drug-related offenses and 21 were carried out for murder.

Along with the recent torture cases, a number of men have been executed in the past week by regime officials. 30-year-old, Farhad Salehi Jabehdar was executed at the Central Prison of Karaj on September 29 after being sentenced to death on rape charges.

Salehi had been imprisoned since 2018, following his crime which was committed a year earlier. Despite his victim’s father requesting for the death penalty to be dropped in 2019, the request was denied by regime president Ebrahim Raisi.

Abbas Gholi Salehi, aged 42, was executed the same day as Jabehdar in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, following a 20-year prison sentence for drug charges, which he was later acquitted for.