Hussain Hazbavi 
A 35-year-old protester arrested following January demonstrations in Mashhad has died in hospital after spending weeks in a coma, reportedly as a result of severe torture while in custody.
Arash Tolou Sheikhzadeh was detained on February 6 after intelligence agents raided his home, about a week after he shared videos of protests held in Mashhad on January 8 and 9.
Sheikhzadeh was held in an intelligence detention facility where he was allegedly subjected to severe abuse, leaving him critically injured. He later fell into a coma and was transferred to hospital, where he died several weeks later.
Rights activists say the case has renewed concerns over the treatment of detainees arrested in connection with protests, including allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and denial of proper medical care in custody.
