Seyed Malek Mousavi

Seyed Malek Mousavi (Davarshenas)  is a 23-year-old Ahvazi Arab from Shavur city in Khuzestan. He worked as a street peddler to support his family, he was the sole breadwinner since he had grown up without a father. Malek was arrested with his friend Abbas Khesreji in the spring of 2021 and subjected to 3 months of physical and psychological torture that included threatening him and his mother with rape, to extract confession to the arson of the IRGC building in Shavur. 

He was denied access to a lawyer and his family did not have the financial means to follow up on his case. In court, Malek faced racist anti-Arab remarks from the judge and to dehumanise him further, Islamic Republic authorities changed his surname from Mousavi, which has religious significance, to Davarshenas. Despite denying his torture-tainted confessions in court, he was convicted without due process and fair trial rights. 

CHARGES: Baghy (armed rebellion) and moharebeh (enmity against god) through arson of the IRGC building in Shavur.

STATUS: Sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Dezful Revolutionary Court in January 2024. He is currently held in Ahvaz Sheiban Prison.