The Iranian police have been threatening the family of Daria Mikaeili, a Kurdish civilian killed by police officers in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan province, for filing a lawsuit against the police, Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.
A source close to the family told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that the police threatened the family and a lawyer pursuing the case in the military court.
Mikaeili, 23, was shot by Iranian police in the Koshtargah neighbourhood of Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan province, on 1 February and died of his injuries at the hospital a week later.
The source added: “According to eyewitnesses who were present in the Koshtargah neighbourhood on 1 February, Daria was pursued by the police on the pretext of transporting contraband goods. He [initially] tried to escape out of fear and stress but surrendered after the forces opened fire. After forcing him to lie on the ground, the forces approached him and fired two bullets; one in his neck and another in his leg using a gun. Then they severely beat him with a baton while he was severely bleeding.”
“Since Daria Mikaeili’s death in Orumiyeh’s Khomeini Hospital last week, police were preventing his body from being handed over to his family for a funeral”, said the source, adding that “The traces of bullets and torture with batons were clearly visible on the body of the civilian”.
KHRN has learned that although the family presented evidence and witness testimonies to the military prosecutor’s office and proved that there was no contraband good in their son’s car, the court has, so far, refused to process the family’s lawsuit and none of the police officers has been prosecuted.
The young man’s funeral was held on 16 February in Orumiyeh.
Mikaeili was a father of two and a resident of the Koshtargah neighbourhood of Orumiyeh.
