Reports that an Iranian blogger has died in detention
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has called on Iranian authorities to confirm what has happened to Sattar Beheshti.
Commenting on reports today that a young Iranian blogger has died in prison, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said:
“I am shocked at reports that Sattar Beheshti, a young Iranian citizen, may have died in detention in Iran. Beheshti’s only crime appears to be advocating the defence of human rights on the internet. Tragically, we have seen many similar cases of Iranians being locked up and mistreated in prison for expressing such views. If these reports are true, this is yet another disgraceful attempt by the Iranian Government to crush any form of free expression by its citizens. The Iranian authorities have full responsibility for Beheshti’s welfare in prison and I call on Iran urgently to confirm what has happened to him.”