“Died under torture”: shocking details emerge about the killing and disappearance of Ahwazi activist Hassan Saeedi

IranWire has revealed horrifying details surrounding the death of Ahwazi civil activist Hassan Saeedi, aged 34, who died only hours after being arrested and tortured by Iran’s intelligence agents in Ahwaz. Saeedi, a father of two young daughters, passed away on the evening of his arrest, Tuesday, October 14, after being brutally beaten and forced to swallow two handfuls of unknown pills.

Arrest, Beating, and Forced Ingestion of Unknown Pills

According to testimony from his brother Ali Saeedi, a former political prisoner now living in the United States, Hassan was arrested at dawn after a large security force surrounded their home, including the rooftop. The agents confiscated all family members’ mobile phones, and Hassan’s phone was destroyed during his last call with his brother as the raid began.

Hassan’s mother, who was also detained for several hours despite suffering from cancer, reported that intelligence officers beat her son severely before forcing him while handcuffed to swallow the pills. She said: “He refused to take them, but they beat him until he lost control, then shoved the pills into his mouth by force.”

Death Within Hours of Arrest

Less than 14 hours after his arrest, the family received news of Hassan’s death. The official report claimed the cause was a “heart attack.” However, his family strongly refuted this explanation, stressing that Hassan had been in good health and had no prior medical issues.

Ali Saeedi stated: “He was arrested in the morning and died at ten at night. He had no legal rights, no charges, no trial, no doctor. This was execution under torture.”

Refusal to Release the Body and Concealment of the Truth

Days after his death, Hassan’s body has not been handed over to his family. Its location has been shuffled between the hospital, the prosecutor’s office, and police departments. His brother warned against accepting the body before an independent forensic autopsy, emphasizing that the Iranian forensic authority is “an arm of the regime and cannot be trusted.”

Arab Activists: A Systematic Policy to Silence Ahwazi Voices

Hassan’s case is not the first. Activists point out that similar incidents have occurred before, including the deaths of Emad Heidari, Star Abu Sorour Siyahi, and Hassan Heidari, who died days after being released from detention amid suspicions of being poisoned through injections or unknown medications.

One activist told IranWire: “When a detainee is forced to swallow those pills, he becomes a body without a voice, without awareness. He may still breathe, but he’s dead inside. This is a terrifying policy used by Iran’s intelligence services to silence any opposing voice.”

Family Harassment and Systematic Pressure on Activists

Hassan’s brother, Ali Saeedi, revealed that their family in occupied Ahwaz has been subjected to continuous pressure to coerce him while in exile into cooperating with Iranian intelligence. Their father was repeatedly summoned and suffered heart attacks due to stress until he passed away. Now, their ailing mother faces similar threats, which could prevent her from undergoing urgently needed surgery.

Legal Perspective: A Clear Violation of Human Rights

According to Mousa Barzin, legal advisor to IranWire, full legal responsibility for Hassan Saeedi’s death lies with the intelligence authorities, as the incident occurred under their custody.

He added: “Even if the family does not know the exact individuals responsible, filing a complaint is enough for the military prosecutor’s office to investigate and identify the agency and officers involved. No security body has the right to transfer or detain a prisoner without a court order. If proven, this constitutes a clear criminal act.”

Call for an International Investigation

In his concluding remarks, Hassan’s brother urged international human rights organizations to intervene and push for an impartial international investigation into his brother’s killing, holding those responsible accountable, and ending what he described as “a policy of slow killing” targeting Ahwazi Arab activists.