14-year-old boy ‘flogged to death’ by para-military police in western Iran

Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 25 – New information has come to light over the sudden death of a 14-year-old schoolboy in western Iran, who died after being flogged for “eating in public” during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Kaveh Habibi-Nejad died Nov. 12 and was buried in the cemetery of the Kurdish city of Sanadaj on Nov. 13, according to his death certificate. Iran Focus

Iran Tehran, Nov. 25 – New information has come to light over the sudden death of a 14-year-old schoolboy in western Iran, who died after being flogged for “eating in public” during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.

Kaveh Habibi-Nejad died Nov. 12 and was buried in the cemetery of the Kurdish city of Sanadaj on Nov. 13, according to his death certificate.

The new information is the official report by the coroner’s office in Sanandaj. The report states that the boy died “as a result of brain hemorrhage, after the back of his skull was fractured by a blow from a hard object”.

Eye-witnesses had previously reported that Kaveh lost consciousness while being flogged by agents of Law Enforcement Forces, Iran’s paramilitary police force. They said they believed he died because “the metal cable being used to flog him hit his head”.

Flogging young men and teenagers in public for a range of offenses such as drinking alcohol or eating in public during the fasting season is common in Iranian cities.

Eye-witnesses said that before Kaveh was flogged, his punishment was read out by the Chief of Police who announced that Kaveh was to receive “85 blows on the back”.