The death-row dad whose story went around the world when he begged to see his baby daughter before his hanging has fallen into a coma after a savage beating.
Condemned Hassan Firouzi became unconscious and unresponsive on 20th January, say human rights activists in Iran.
It means he is unlikely to have his wish to see his baby daughter before he dies fulfilled.
Hassan, 34, is believed to have been brutally tortured by interrogators at Tehran’s grim Evin Prison.
His left kidney is said to have been destroyed after a savage beatings with a chair leg.
He was remanded in the jail on 26th November on accusations of leading protests, propaganda against the state, and disturbing public security.
A court in the Iranian capital later sentenced him to death by hanging for moharebeh, or waging war against God.
And now he has fallen into a coma – according to reports – after officials denied him access to treatment for his torture injuries.
Hassan was first seized by security police on 27th October, accused of having taken part in a street protest in Tehran.
He was released on bail but arrested again on 26th November, when his infant daughter Hannaneh was only 18 days old.
He ended up confessing – under duress – to being a leader of the anti-government protests.
Leaked images showed how him with bruises on his face and body following alleged torture at Evin Prison.
His neck was severely bruised, apparently from having been strangled with a noose in a mock hanging.
His story went around the world after a heart-wrenching call from Evin Prison in which he begged his supporters to help him see his baby daughter one last time.
He was quoted as having said: “I only have one request from the Iranian people. Do something to help me see my daughter one more time.
“Whether or not I sign confession papers, they will kill me.
“My only wish is to see my daughter one last time. After 10 years, God finally gave us a child. I only got to see her for 18 days (before being arrested for protesting).
“I miss my daughter so much. My only wish is that I get to see my daughter one last time before they kill me.”
Another jailed protester reported to have fallen into a coma has been named as bodybuilder Mohammad Ekhtiarian.
Security police had shot him in the leg and then arrested him at a street protest in Khorramabad, according to reports.
His wounds had then become infected, causing him to fall into a coma, said his lawyer.
Protests broke out in Iran on 16th September after morality police fatally beat 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini for wearing her hijab “improperly”.
At least 481 protesters have been killed, while at least 109 are facing execution or death-penalty charges or sentences, according to the non-profit Iran Human Rights.
