A/HRC/22/56 Rapporteur nonetheless continues to maintain that the existence of these legal safeguards does not in itself invalidate allegations of torture, and does not remove the obligation to investigate thoroughly such allegations. He also emphasizes that widespread impunity and allegations of the use of confessions solicited under duress as evidence continues to contribute to the prevalence of torture. 24. On 15 November 2012, the Special Rapporteur joined the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in calling on the Government to investigate the death of Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti. 21 Mr. Beheshti was reportedly arrested by the Iranian Cyber Police Unit on 30 October 2012 on charges of “actions against national security on social networks and Facebook”. His family was reportedly summoned to collect his body seven days later. During an interview for the present report, one source informed the Special Rapporteur that Mr. Beheshti had been tortured for the purpose of retrieving his Facebook user name and password, repeatedly threatened with death during his interrogation, and beaten in the face and torso with a baton. The source also stated that Mr. Beheshti had reported chest pain to other prisoners and that authorities were made aware of his complaints, but no action was taken. A domestic report released in January 2013 by the Majles’ National Security and Foreign Policy Commission criticized the Tehran Cyber Crimes Police Unit for holding Mr. Beheshti in its own (unrecognized) detention centre, but fell short of alleging direct wrongdoing in his death or of calling for an investigation into the apparent widespread maintenance of illegal detention centres operated by branches of intelligence services, in contravention of Iranian law.22 25. The Special Rapporteur is also troubled by media reports that the memorial service for Mr. Beheshti was subject to a raid by security agents, who beat and arrested members of Mr. Beheshti’s family and a number of attendees. It was also reported that five security officers beat and dragged Mr. Beheshti’s elderly mother by her hair, and that his brother, Asghar, was also arrested and detained for two hours. 23 26. According to other reports, in late October 2012, the home of Jamil Sowaidi was raided and he was detained by plainclothes officers claiming to be members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Frequent attempts by Mr. Sowaidi’s family to enquire about his whereabouts were reportedly rebuffed by authorities. On 6 November, authorities reportedly confirmed that Mr. Sowaidi had died in custody and advised his family not to pursue the case. The family’s request for an autopsy was reportedly denied, and Mr. Sowaidi was buried on 8 November 2012. The Special Rapporteur strongly urges the Government to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into Mr. Sowaidi’s death, and encourages it to take measures to remedy the matter, in accordance with international standards. 24 21 22 23 24 8 See “Iran: UN experts call for an independent and impartial investigation into the death in custody of a blogger”, OHCHR, 15 November 2012. Available from www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12792&LangID=E. See www.parliran.ir/index.aspx?siteid=1&pageid=2964&newsview=16898. See http://hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-51/14403-1.html; and “Sattar Behesti’s 40th Day Passing Memorial Services Raided, His Mother Beaten and Injured”, Persianbanoo, 13 December 2013 (available from http://persianbanoo.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/sattar-beheshtis-40th-day-passingmemorial-services-raided-his-mother-beaten-and-injured/). “Ahwazi Arab political activist Jamil Sowaidi reportedly tortured to death in custody”, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, 9 November 2012. Available from www.iranhrdc.org/english/news/inside-iran/1000000206-ahwazi-arab-political-activist-jamil-sowaidireportedly-tortured-to-death-in-custody.html#.UN0sr6UTszU.