Iranian Blogger Dies in Custody

Iranian blogger and Facebook activist Sattar Beheshti is reported dead in custody. Beheshti, 35, was taken into custody accused of opposition activism on Facebook. His family said today that they have received phone calls from the prison authorities asking them to collect Beheshti's dead body from the notorious Kahrizak detention center. They fear he has died under torture.

Iran’s popular news site Tabak said Beheshti was arrested by Fata (cyber police) and has died while being interrogated.

Sahamnews, a website close to the opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, also said Beheshti had died "under torture" during an interrogation session with security officials.

Before his arrest, Beheshti wrote in his blog: “They threatened me yesterday that my mother would wear black because I don't shut my mouth.”

Warden of Notorious Kahrizak Prison Arrested

The warden of the notorious Kahrizak prison was arrested today in Tehran on charges of torturing detainees arrested during post-election protests.

"After an investigation of the Kahrizak detention centre, the head of the centre was arrested,” said Tehran’s Police Chief Brig. Gen. Esmaeil Ahmadi-Moqaddam.

"There have been some violations in this centre and some of the officials there have not followed instructions.

"I was also responsible for some of the incidents there and do not want to escape responsibility.

"There have however been clear instructions not to take students to that place [Kahrizak Prison] and not confront them physically," Gen. Moqaddam said.