SB
Sattar Beheshti
35 years old·Tehran
2012-11-03
A blogger who criticized the government on Facebook. He was arrested by cyber police and died under torture after just 4 days in custody.
“They are killing me”
Full Biography
Behnam Mahjoubi
Age33 years
CityLoghman Hospital, Tehran
Date2021-02-21
Cause of DeathMedical negligence and torture while imprisoned - died from untreated epilepsy complications after being denied proper medication and subjected to psychological torture
Dreams & Aspirations
Behnam dreamed of a society where people of all faiths could practice their beliefs freely without persecution. He hoped to see the day when Gonabadi Dervishes could gather peacefully for their spiritual practices without fear of arrest or harassment. He wanted to live a simple life devoted to spiritual contemplation and service to his community, and hoped to one day make a pilgrimage to sacred Sufi sites. His greatest wish was to see his mother live without fear and to build a family with his wife Saleh in a free and tolerant Iran.
Life Story
Behnam Mahjoubi was a 33-year-old member of the Gonabadi Dervish religious minority, a Sufi order known for their peaceful spiritual practices and emphasis on inner enlightenment. He was arrested in February 2018 during the Gonabadi Dervish protests in Tehran, where the community gathered to peacefully protest the arrest of their members and defend their place of worship. Despite suffering from severe epilepsy and panic disorder requiring daily medication, Behnam was sentenced to two years in prison. Throughout his imprisonment, he was systematically denied his essential medications and subjected to psychological torture, including solitary confinement and threats against his family. His health deteriorated rapidly due to medical negligence, leading to his transfer to Loghman Hospital where he died on February 21, 2021, still in custody and chained to his hospital bed.
Last Words
Tell everyone that they are killing me slowly with their deliberate medical neglect
Impact on Movement
Behnam's death exposed the systematic persecution of religious minorities in Iran and the use of medical negligence as a form of torture in prisons. His case drew international attention to the plight of Gonabadi Dervishes and other religious minorities under the Islamic Republic. Human rights organizations documented his case as evidence of crimes against humanity, and his death sparked renewed calls for accountability for the treatment of prisoners of conscience in Iran. His mother, Batool Hosseini, became a vocal advocate for justice despite facing harassment and threats from authorities.
Related Eternal Names
DA
Davoud Abdollahi
30 years old·Karaj
2024-01-02
A Kurdish political prisoner who spent 14 years on death row after being arrested in December 2009. He was on hunger strike protesting solitary confinement when executed. One of seven co-defendants systematically executed.
“Fourteen years of my life stolen for seeking justice”
Full Biography
AK
Anwar Khezri
30 years old·Karaj
2024-05-01
A Kurdish Sunni political prisoner who spent 15 years in detention after being arrested in December 2009. He was tortured to extract confessions and denied fair trial. Fifth of seven co-defendants to be executed systematically.
“I forgive my executioners but history will judge them”
Full Biography
Their Path Continues
The memory of our eternal names lives in our hearts and will continue until Iran is free
Woman, Life, Freedom