Saman Rasoulpour
Esmail Lotfollahi is the brother of Ebrahim Lotfollahi, a student from Sanandaj who died mysteriously while in detention. Rooz has conducted an exclusive interview with Esmail about his brother’s detention and subsequent death. Esmail insists that his brother has not committed suicide: “we have not believed his death yet. The whole thing happened in only 8 days.”
Rooz (R): Mr. Lotfollahi! A few days after your brother’s arrest they informed you that he has committed suicide. Tell us more.
Esmail Lotfollahi (EL): On January 6, 2008, security forces arrested and transferred my brother to a detention center in Sanandaj, minutes after he completed a university exam. On January 15, meaning 8 days after his arrest, they contacted us from the detention center and said that Ebrahim has committed suicide and has been buried in the Behesht-e Mohammadi cemetery.
R: Did you go to the cemetery?
EL: Yes, we did. They showed us Ebrahim’s grave, over which they had poured concrete over.
R: Concrete?!
EL: Yes. They have poured concrete over his grave, probably so that we would not be able to take his body out for examination and see things they didn’t want us to see.
R: Like what?
EL: Signs of torture or anything else that can cause a person’s death.
R: Did anyone witness your brother’s burial?
EL: Someone who worked there told us that a few people came in a government car and buried his body.
R: Did he see your brother’s corpse?
EL: No he didn’t. Security forces had buried him themselves and did not allow anyone to get close to the scene.
R: You said that you visited Ebrahim in prison a few days after his arrest. Tell us about that visit. How was your brother’s physical and mental condition during that visit?
EL: My mother and I went to prison to visit him and we were able to meet him in a cabin. My brother’s morale was high, like always. He even asked me to bring warm clothes for him. In general, he was doing well.
R: It didn’t seem like he was planning a suicide?
EL: Absolutely not! We don’t believe that he has committed suicide. He was doing well both mentally and physically. If he has committed suicide then why didn’t they let us see his corpse? Why did they burry him themselves and then pour concrete over his corpse?
R: Why did they arrest him in the first place?
EL: He was full of energy and interested in student affairs. They say he was active in the university. Even before they arrested him, security forces came to our house one or two times but he wasn’t home, until they arrested him on the university exam day. He had no history of previous arrests.
R: What was Ebrahim studying?
EL: Ebrahim was 27 ears old, and was completing his 7th semester at Payam-e Nour’s law school.
R: Since you do not believe that he committed suicide, are you planning to investigate the matter further?
EL: We want to examine his corpse. Ebrahim’s corpse must be examined to determine the exact cause of death. We have hired an attorney and will file a suit against people who were directly or indirectly involved in my brother’s death. Right now we don’t even know if my brother is in that grave.
R: How are your mother and father doing?
EL: They are so sad. They haven’t believed that Ebrahim is not alive yet. The whole thing took 8 days. First he was arrested, then we met him in prison, then they call us from prison and give us the address of his grave. We are shocked.
R: Is there anything else you want to add?
EL: No! We hope that the true criminals are found and that we witness their punishment with our own eyes.
