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Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti dies after arrest

09 November 2012 10:18 (UTC +04:00)

Sattar Beheshti, 35, was arrested by Iranian police on charges of "actions against national security on social networks and Facebook."

His exact whereabouts and the manner of his death are unclear. Mr Beheshti’s family say police told them to pick up his body on Wednesday. Iranian authorities have offered no official comment on the case.

Mr Beheshti spent one night in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, where he wrote an official complaint to prison authorities alleging ill-treatment, before being moved to an unknown location. It is thought Mr Beheshti was targeted for his writings on political and social issues on his blog and on Facebook.

Mr Beheshti’s family say they have been prevented from visiting his grave, with the exception of his brother-in-law.

Campaign group Reporters Without Borders called on the Iranian authorities "to clarify the exact circumstances" of Mr Beheshti’s death and urged the international community "not to allow this crime to go unpunished".

France and the UK have issued similar appeals for more information on Mr Beheshti’s death, but there has been no response from Iranian officials.