Iran Protester Dies in Custody, Raising Fears of Execution

Ali Rahbar, a 33-year-old gym coach who posted weight lifting videos and poetry online, was arrested at a protest in Mashhad on Jan. 8 and was dead two weeks later, relatives say. His family says the only contact from authorities was an instruction to collect his body.

Rights groups are treating his disappearance and death as a possible extrajudicial killing, even as Iranian officials insist no executions have taken place and the judiciary’s news outlet called reports of his death “fake news.” Rahbar’s name appeared on a list of nearly 3,000 people the government said were killed in the protests; the list does not say how those people died.

Rights groups estimate thousands have been killed and around 40,000 detained, and they warn some detainees may face execution to deter further dissent. The family says Rahbar was buried quickly and discreetly on Jan. 22 under strict monitoring, was not allowed to open his shroud, and was ordered not to observe the customary 40th day of mourning.

Iran, Mashhad

ali rahbar, iran protests, mashhad, extrajudicial killing, execution fears, mass detentions, human rights, iran judiciary, forced burial, 40th day