Javad Rouhi, a 35-year-old Iranian activist, has passed away in custody, sparking outrage and calls for justice. His death sentence, which stemmed from his participation in anti-government protests, was recently overturned by Iran’s supreme court. Javad Rouhi was initially detained during demonstrations protesting Mahsa Amini’s tragic murder while in custody, allegedly due to wearing an “improper” hijab. Regrettably, he lost his life due to inadequate hospital care following a seizure, leaving campaigners seeking accountability. The Iranian judiciary’s news website, Mizan, reported, “Unfortunately, [Rouhi] died despite the actions of medical staff, and a legal case has been filed to follow up on the reason for his death.” Human rights activists, however, accuse the judiciary and security agencies of having a hand in Rouhi’s demise, revealing his passing on social media an hour before its official announcement. Rouhi’s activism began after the passing of Mahsa Amini when he was detained by Iran’s morality police for organizing protests. Subsequently, he was convicted of inciting riots, property damage, and apostasy, allegedly for burning a Holy Quran during a protest, as reported by the BBC.
Activists are sharing video clips from last year showing Rouhi passionately participating in protests. According to Amnesty International, he endured torture, including floggings, exposure to freezing temperatures, electric shocks, and threats with a gun to extract confessions. Initially sentenced to triple death for blasphemy, property destruction, and inciting national security in Nowshahr, his sentence was overturned in May, leading to a re-evaluation of his case. The court’s review revealed that Rouhi had protested independently, and his actions did not fit the legal definitions of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) or “corruption on earth,” both crimes punishable by death in Islamic law.
