Woman, Life, Freedom: Kurdish Athlete Mehran Akrami Dies Under Torture During Women, Life, Freedom Movement
Hengaw: Friday, March 15, 2024
Mehran Akrami, a Kurdish athlete from Takab city who was apprehended by security agencies in Saqqez city during the Women, Life, Freedom movement, has tragically passed away due to torture inflicted by the intelligence forces of the city. With a notable background in taekwondo, Akrami held several provincial and national medals. His demise adds to the toll of 12 Kurdish individuals who lost their lives under similar circumstances during the aforementioned movement.
According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Tuesday, March 13, 2024, 32-year-old Mehran Akrami, arrested during the November 2022 protests in Saqqez city, suffered fatal torture at the hands of the city's intelligence forces. Akrami had been detained in the Saqqez Intelligence Department's detention center since his arrest.
A source close to the Akrami family revealed that on Thursday, March 14, the Saqqez Intelligence Department informed them of their son's demise and directed them to claim the body. However, upon reaching the Saqqez Central Prison, they were redirected to the "Khomeini" hospital.
The family discovered that Mehran's body had been taken for autopsy upon visiting Khomeini Hospital. The delivery of the body was contingent on Mehran's father signing a document agreeing to a year-long autopsy procedure.
Hengaw has received information that last week Mehran Akrami was transferred to Khomeini Hospital after enduring severe beatings, resulting in kidney failure, while in the Intelligence Department Detention Center. Akrami's family stated that during their visit on Tuesday, they found two security agents stationed in his room, and both of his hands and one of his legs were tied to the bed.
Despite receiving dialysis treatment at Khomeini Hospital, he was abruptly returned to the detention center of the intelligence department under the advice of his physician. Tragically, he succumbed to torture merely three hours later.
Sources close to the family who viewed Mehran Akrami's body noted severe head injuries, including a fracture at the back of his head, as well as bleeding from his nose, ears, and mouth.
Mehran Akrami's funeral took place in Takab City on Thursday amid heightened security measures. He had been in custody in the detention center of the intelligence department since his arrest on November 12, 2022, during the Women, Life, Freedom movement, despite multiple attempts by his family to secure his temporary release on bail.
Notably, Mehran Akrami's arrest stemmed from his political activism, and his brother and cousin were also detained during the same movement.
Family members lamented that even after Mehran's passing, security agencies refused to return his personal belongings.
Mehran Akrami's death marks the twelfth instance of a Kurdish individual dying under torture after being arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom movement, according to the data registered at the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. Previous victims include Ismail Dezwar, Mohammad Abdullahi, Ramin Fatehi, Saman Qadirpour, Omid Hosseini, Hemn Aman, Shadman Ahmadi, Shahriar Adeli, Mohammad Haji Rasulpour, Shirzad Ahmadinejad, and 16-year-old Barzin Hamzezadeh.
