A young man in his early thirties died in Iran after twenty days in a coma as a result of torture.
He had been arrested, beaten and then released precisely for fear that he would die in the cell.
His name was
Mehdi Zare Ashkzari
and what made his chilling end even more 'felt' in Italy is the link with Bologna and with his university in particular, where Mehdi had studied pharmacy before returning home two years ago.
And it is Amnesty International Italy to disseminate the first information on the case.
Then the message from
Patrick Zaki
who, with the disappearance of the thirty-year-old Iranian, underlines how the University of Bologna "now has a new victim of freedom of expression".
Disarming words those of the Egyptian student who remained in prison in his homeland for two years for crimes of opinion, when he comments: "Unfortunately, this time, it was too late to save him".
However, it is then the flood of reactions, testimonies and affection of those who knew him and had shared his university years with Mahdi that makes the Italian city the sounding board of this umpteenth shock case from Iran.
Mehdi Zare Ashkzari "was one of us", Sanam Naderi, an Iranian who lives in Bologna, told ANSA, "he was very well known, many students came to him, ate pizza where he worked. He was always smiling".
Mehdi had enrolled in university in 2015 and for a time he had worked as a delivery boy, to support his studies, then as an assistant cook in a pizzeria.
Two years ago he returned to Iran to be close to his mother who was ill, then the mother died, as told by another friend of his, Ali Jenaban: "The last time I heard him he was happy, he said to me 'with family let's go on". He too took part in the demonstrations for freedom, to find what we all want".
"We only heard the news of his death last night because the family members hadn't said anything so as not to have problems with the funeral, otherwise the regime will not release the body", says Sanam.
"Tomorrow they will bury you next to your mother's grave and you will find peace there,
The community around the Bolognese university is shocked:
"We welcome the news with dismay, pain, indignation and we express our condolences to the family and our solidarity with all Iranian women and men and women who, even in universities, are struggling and suffering for the values that are most dear to us", he commented the rector of Bologna, Giovanni Molari.
"The university and the city of Bologna will continue to ask for justice and the intervention of the institutions", echoed Professor Rita Monticelli, coordinator of the Master Gemma attended by Patrick Zaki and delegate of the mayor for human rights and interreligious dialogue and intercultural, speaking at the peace march in the city.
And from the stage of the march, the deputy mayor of Bologna, Emily Clancy, launches a message of solidarity: "
From Bologna we send a very strong thought to the family of Mehdi Zare Ashkzari.
To all those fighting for the freedom of women and men in Iran.
We send a strong embrace of brotherhood and sisterhood to the Iranian community". The eyes of the world thus remain focused on the ferocious Iranian repression even with the beginning of this new year, and precisely following the night celebrations they were arrested in Damavand, near the Iranian capital, some former and current footballers of a well-known Tehran team, for having participated in a New Year's party with men and women and consuming alcohol, writes the Iranian agency Tasnim. The latest updates show that the state of detention for however, the sportsmen did not last long, and were released shortly after.
However, the episode underlines the fact that since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran it has been forbidden to participate in mixed parties, with men and women, and to drink alcohol.
Meanwhile, dissident journalist Keyvan Samimi was also released, who had been in prison since December 2020 accused of "scheming against national security".
