Kavous Seyed Emami, an environmentalist, professor of sociology at Tehran’s Imam Sadegh University and Founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (Iran’s most prominent non-governmental organization focussed on the environment) was arrested on January 24th by intelligence agents, along with several other environmental activists and charged with espionage.
His wife received a phone call from prison authorities notifying her that her husband had committed suicide. His friends and colleagues find this highly unlikely. Additionally, the death of Mr. Emami is among a number of deaths of recently detained activists. Prison authorities report that following the recent demonstrations three other activists also committed suicide while incarcerated.
Complete Article in New York Times: He Fought For Iran’s Environment and Was Arrested. Now, He’s Dead, by Thomas Erdbrink, February 10, 2018.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/world/middleeast/iran-environmentalist-dead-prison.html
Updated Status: Cause of Death Questioned. Suicide Suspicious. Three Other Prison Suicides Reported in Past Few Days.
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/02/clear-signs-of-state-cover-up-in-prison-death-of-iranian-canadian-academic-in-iran/