A 45-year-old Ahwazi citizen by the name of Ghasem Bawi has committed suicide due to the torture he endured during his arrest by the Iranian authorities, the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) sources reported.
Bawi was arrested during the November anti-government protests in Ahwaz. He committed suicide a few days after his release due to the physical and psychological torture he endured during his arrest.
Bawi was arrested by mistake as he was passing by a demonstration in the Kut Abdollah area. He was not involved in the protests.
According to AHRO’s sources, Bawi, who was detained in a security centre for 10 days, had been suffering severe seizures for several weeks after his release until his suicide. He was deprived of sleep as a result.
According to eyewitnesses, Bawi suffered from nightmares and constantly recalled his torture in detention, as well as the torture and screams of detained children and women.
Bawi said that he used to hear them constantly in the cell but as the place was completely dark, he could not see anything or anybody.
Bawi committed suicide by shooting himself in the head on December 13 and his body was buried on December 15.
What happened to Ghasem Bawi is a clear example of the cruel arrests and brutal torture of peaceful Ahwazi citizens and protesters by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Following the nationwide anti-government protests last month, about 2,500 Arab citizens have been arrested in various parts of the Ahwaz province, and about 70 to 100 Ahwazi protesters have been killed by security forces and the IRGC.
Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO)
29 December 2019
