DUBAI – Iran's parliament called Sunday for a special inquiry to investigate the death in detention of a blogger whose posts criticized the country's leadership. In a case that provoked international outrage, Sattar Beheshti was arrested in his home on Oct. 30 after receiving death threats, and died some days later, having complained of being tortured. “It is necessary that the responsible agencies ... exercise more supervision and seriousness with regard to these bitter events and carry out a special inquiry of the case of the death of Sattar Beheshti,” parliament said in a report read out Sunday. The report also recommended training for all staff in detention units, the installation in detention centers of CCTV equipment and the regular inspection of facilities. It is unclear what a special inquiry would involve and whether the government will follow up on the recommendations. But the report demonstrates the extent of concern within parliament over the case and the assembly's emphasis on human rights before presidential elections in June. Authorities have arrested seven people suspected of involvement in Beheshti's death, three of whom are still in custody. His death also led to the dismissal of the head of Tehran's cyber police unit for “failures and weaknesses in adequately supervising personnel under his supervision”. – Reuters
