IRAN* The Islamic Republic of Iran, with a population of ...

IRAN
regime. Official corruption and a lack of government transparency persisted.
Violence and legal and societal discrimination against women, children, ethnic and
religious minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons were
extant. Trafficking in persons and incitement to anti-Semitism remained problems.
The government severely restricted workers' rights and arrested numerous union
leaders. Child labor remained a serious problem.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were reports that the government and its agents committed multiple acts of
arbitrary or unlawful killings, and the government made only limited attempts to
investigate killings.
There were at least two extrajudicial killings during the year, and there were few
updates or investigations into cases from previous years.
On February 22, Yavar Khodadoust, held at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, reportedly
died as a result of severe torture. Prison officials reportedly warned Khodadoust's
family from pursuing an investigation into his death.
On April 30, according to multiple sources, unknown persons in Sari Prison
reportedly tortured to death Hadi Aravand, a death row prisoner, who had been
convicted of murder. Sari Prison's warden claimed that Aravand's death was the
result of suicide, but the coroner ruled that Aravand died from suffocation with a
plastic bag tied over his head and confirmed that Aravand's arms were tied behind
his back and his legs tied together at the time of his death. Torture and bruise
marks were reportedly visible on Aravand's body, including a broken arm, wounds
on his back, and a small deep slit around his neck.
There were no updates in the June 2009 killings in separate incidents of Amir
Mirza or Taraneh Mousavi. After Basij militia arrested Mirza and Mousavi,
authorities allegedly beat and tortured them in custody, including raping Mousavi.
There was no update in the July 2009 killing of Mohammad Naderipour, chairman
of the student chapter in former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi's
election campaign. According to Iran Human Rights Voice (IHRV), Naderipour's
2