Environmentalist dies in Iran prison

Tehran, Feb. 11: Iran’s academic community was in shock on Sunday following the death of renowned environmentalist Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian-Canadian, who authorities claimed committed suicide in prison a fortnight after his arrest.

Emami, 63, who headed the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, was arrested along with seven colleagues on January 24.

His death was announced by the family on social media late last night.

“The news of my father’s passing is impossible to fathom,” wrote his son Ramin Seyed Emami, a well-known singer, on his Instagram page.

He said police had informed his mother on Friday. “They say he committed suicide. I still can’t believe this.” The Iran Sociology Association, of which Emami was an active member, released a statement on Sunday, questioning the claim that Emami took his own life.

“The information published about him is not believable and we expect officials to respond and to provide the public with information concerning his death,” it said.