File photo of protests in Iran after death in custody of Mahsa Amini
(Picture: AP)The family of a young protester who died in custody in Iran have said his body showed shocking signs of torture.
Hamed Salahshoor, 23, was arrested near the western city of Izeh on November 26, with relatives told four days later that he was dead.
In an interview with BBC Persian, Mr Salashoor’s cousins said the security forces made the family declare he had a heart attack, despite his body showing signs of severe head injuries.
A relative told the broadcaster: “His face was smashed. His nose, jaw and chin were broken. His torso from his neck to his navel, and over his kidneys, was stitched up.”
Continuous protests against the ruling theocracy have taken place in Iran since September after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly".
A source close to the family of Mr Salashoor said he had taken part in the protests, but they did not know why he had been taken into custody.
On the day of his arrest, the taxi driver picked up passengers in his taxi in the southern city of Isfahan and began a 115-mile journey to Izeh.
However, he was stopped at a checkpoint near Izeh and taken into custody. Family also alleged that he not been given a proper Muslim burial by security officials.
Iranian authorities have not yet commented on the allegations.
On Monday, UN Secretary General António Guterres said crackdowns on protests by Iranian authorities in recent months were unacceptable.
Speaking at an end of year news conference, Mr Guterres said it was “totally unacceptable" adding: “We are witnessing massive violations of human rights that we strongly condemn.”
Security forces have killed more than 500 protesters and arrested over 18,000, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has been closely monitoring the unrest.
Over the weekend, one of the country’s most renowned actresses was arrested on charges of spreading falsehoods about the protests, the latest in a series of celebrity arrests that have included footballers, actors and influencers.
