Update: Danial Zeinolabedini’s Body Buried; Increasing Concern About His Codefendant

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Body of the death row juvenile offender who was beaten to death in an Iranian prison, is finally handed over to his family for the burial. Danial Zeinolabedini who allegedly committed a murder at the age of 17. He and several other prisoners, including his co-defendant Danial Divani-Azar were beaten badly by the security guards following a riot in Mahabad prison, West Azerbaijan province. Iran Human Rights (IHR) is concerned about the other prisoners’ destiny.

While the body of Danial Zeiolabedini who was beaten to death by prison guards was handed over to his family, the father of his co-defendant says there is no news about his imprisoned son, and he doesn’t know whether his son is still alive.
Following a riot in Mahabad prison triggered by prisoners’ fear of the guards’ mismanagement to control the  COVID-19  spread, Danial Zeinolabedini along with Danial Divani-Azar and some others were sent to solitary confinement, where they were beaten for several hours and transferred to Miandoab prison, West Azerbaijan province. In Miandoab prison, they were beaten again. 
Danial called home on Tuesday, March 31. He told his family that he was beaten badly and that he could barely talk. He was announced dead on April 2, 2020. 
Initially, authorities denied sending the body to forensics. Following IHR’s report on the murder the death row juvenile offender, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Iranian authorities to immediately conduct an independent and impartial investigation into Zeinolabedini’s death and hold those responsible to account. Eventually, on April 5, they agreed to let forensics to examine Danial’s body. He was buried in his hometown thereafter.
“We have received Danial’s body full of bruises and injuries. Authorities claimed he committed suicide. Danial’s co-defendant was also beaten and injured badly. He is in grave danger, too” a source told IHR. 
Iran Human Rights expressed its concerns over the destiny of Danial Divani-Azar and other prisoners who were beaten in Mahabad prison.
Danial Zeinolabedini was a juvenile offender whose death sentence had been upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court. Danial was born on August 9, 2000. He allegedly committed murder on September 22, 2017, when he was 17 years old. According to his relatives, he did not commit the murder and was innocent.
According to the Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, published by IHR, at least 4 juvenile-offenders were executed in 2019 in Iran.