Iran Investigates Custodial Death of Mohammad Mirmousavi

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has initiated an investigation into the suspicious death of 36-year-old Mohammad Mir Mousavi, who reportedly died from torture while in police custody in Lahijan. The case has drawn parallels to the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, which triggered nationwide protests against the government's treatment of detainees. Five police officers have been temporarily detained as part of the inquiry, amid accusations from the human rights group Hengaw that Mousavi was severely beaten after his arrest following a street altercation. Activists warn that this incident could heighten inter-communal tensions, particularly affecting Iran's Gilak minority, to which Mousavi belonged. Pezeshkian, elected in July on a reformist platform, has vowed to address human rights violations and uphold citizens' rights. This incident marks the seventh documented custodial death in Iran this year, raising ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of detainees.