Iranian Protester Commits Suicide Amidst Allegations Of Torture

Alireza Khari, a protester who was released from prison in Iran, has taken his own life allegedly due to relentless security pressures.

Khari, detained previously for burning a picture of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in front of the the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) headquarters, reportedly faced torture during his captivity.

Having been arrested in September 2022, Khari endured 40 days of solitary confinement and three months in prison. After his release, he was repeatedly summonsed and interrogated by the IRGC.

In the wake of the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death, close to 20,000 Iranians were apprehended by government authorities either during or in the intervals between protest periods. While a number have been subsequently released, a handful have succumbed to mysterious and premature deaths.

In a similar vein, other incidents earlier have happened involving Iranian protesters. Yalda Aghafazli, a 19-year-old protester died in April last year under mysterious circumstances after her release from prison, with tests revealing narcotics in her system. Meanwhile, Arshia Emamgholizadeh, a 16-year-old arrested for a minor offense, ended his life shortly after release, due to the trauma inflicted during his detention.

Such incidents highlight the grave human rights violations and the toll they take on the mental and physical well-being of Iranian citizens.