Kermanshah: Death of Peyman Abdi from Nowsud due to Torture by Security Institutions

Hengaw: Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Peyman Abdi, a resident of Nowsud in Paveh city, died as a result of torture after being arrested by security agencies in Kermanshah. The security agencies, while threatening Abdi's family with media coverage, claimed his death was due to suffocation.

According to a report obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Peyman Abdi, 35, from Nowsud district in Paveh city and the father of two children, died in the army hospital. He was arrested last week by the forces of the intelligence department in Kermanshah and went into a coma under torture.

A relative of Mr. Abdi informed Hengaw, stating, "On Tuesday, Abdi's family was contacted from 520 Kermanshah Hospital, also known as the Army Hospital, and they were informed that his body is here, ready for collection."

This source further mentioned that the doctors at the army hospital informed Abdi's family that he died due to a severe blow to his head from a hard object.

However, the security agencies, pressuring Abdi's family, claimed that Peyman Abdi choked on his food while eating in the detention center, leading to his death.

The source, whose identity is protected by Hengaw for security reasons, continued, "Peyman Abdi was arrested on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, by the Kermanshah Intelligence Department forces on one of the city streets. That night, he was subjected to torture and beatings, fell into a coma, and was subsequently transferred to the army hospital."

During the 8 days of Peyman Abdi's detention and coma in the hospital, his family remained uninformed about his condition. They were contacted by the army hospital on Tuesday, where they were informed of his tragic death.

Hengaw received information that the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran handed over Peyman Abdi's body to his family on Wednesday, January 10. This occurred after obtaining a written commitment from the Abdi family not to mediate this issue.

The security authorities have claimed that the reason for Abdi's arrest was a conflict with officers, but they have not provided additional details. This lack of transparency raises concerns about the nature, legality of his arrest, and subsequent treatment he received.

According to statistics recorded in the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 11 prisoners lost their lives under torture in Iranian prisons in 2023, with 8 of them being Kurdish prisoners.