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Ali Bani Asad, a 20-year-old Arab citizen from Ahvaz, became the second victim of torture by the security forces in the region, following the death of activist Emad Heidari. Reports indicate that Ali, who lacked any political activism background and did not participate in recent protests, was arrested by the Intelligence Department in Ahvaz under the suspicion of carrying a weapon. Despite the official cause of death being declared as “kidney failure” by the forensic department, those close to Ali refute any pre-existing health conditions, suggesting his death was directly caused by severe beatings.

This account sheds light on a disturbing pattern of oppression faced by Arab activists in Khuzestan, highlighting a broader issue of human rights abuses in Iran. The arbitrary detention of Ali, under fabricated charges and without any involvement in the protests, underscores the regime’s indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. His family’s attempt to seek justice was met with obstruction, a common plight for many families seeking accountability for their loved ones’ deaths in custody.

The narrative of Ali Bani Asad’s death is part of a larger, grim tapestry of state violence against citizens, with numerous detainees disappearing into unknown locations, and families left without information regarding their whereabouts or condition. The case of Mehrnoush Tafian and Ashkan Shami Pour, arrested for supporting the nationwide protests, and the uncertain fate of students Saba Rayani and Lili Hazrati, forcibly taken by plainclothes officers, further exemplify the regime’s crackdown on civil dissent.

In the aftermath of recent protests, the lack of communication from detainees, especially following incidents like the fire and shootings in Evin Prison, has exacerbated the anguish of families unaware of their loved ones’ fates. The story of Azin Saeidi-Nasab, a 21-year-old environmental studies student at Tehran University, who has been incommunicado since her arrest, highlights the distressing uncertainty faced by detainees and their families.

The history of torture and deaths in custody during past protests paints a harrowing picture of systemic abuse within Iran’s detention facilities. From the tragic case of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist, to the recent death of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami, the regime’s efforts to obscure the truth about the cause of deaths in custody continue to inflict additional suffering on grieving families. These stories not only memorialize the victims but also call attention to the urgent need for accountability and reform within Iran’s security and judicial systems.