Iranian women watch relative being beaten in Iranian prison

Summary of story from Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, June 3, 2011

The mother of journalist Masoud Bastani, 31, his wife, and his mother-in-law have reported that they witnessed him being beaten by a prison guard in the Rajaishahr prison in the Iranian city of Karaj.

“As the visiting hours were drawing to an end, Masoud asked for a couple of more minutes so he could say his goodbyes to us all, then a guard grabbed him by the collar and banged his head against the wall,” his mother, Masoumeh Malouol, said.

His wife, Mahsa Amarabadi, said none of his relatives has seen him since the beating.

Masoud Bastani had been arrested during the unrest that followed the disputed presidential election in June 2009 and found guilty of propaganda against the government, creating unrest, and disturbing public order. He was given a six-year jail term.

Masoumeh Malouol said she does not hold the guard responsible, as he might have been following orders, but does fault the system that allows the guard to act as he did.

“I hold the prosecutor responsible, who claims jurisdiction over these prisoners but has sent them to serve their terms in unsupervised prisons under such conditions,” she said.