After the student uprising in July 1999, a massive crackdown took place in Iran. Many students were imprisoned, many disappeared and many were seriously injured. However, the crackdown in Tehran and some other cities like Tabriz was so severe that the events in other Iranian cities were somewhat under shadowed. Ahwaz, a hot Southern Iranian city was one of those where the suppression of the uprising was under reported.

The people of Ahwaz, hearing about the courage displayed by students in other cities, also stood up to the Islamic regime. The crackdown that followed meant hundreds of Ahwaz youth were sent to the dungeons. The 24 year old Mehdi Hoveyzeri was one of those youngsters. He took an active role in the demonstrations and wrote anti-regime slogans in public places. Perhaps at the time, he was unaware of the tragedies that lay ahead for himself and his family.

Mehdi was arrested on 17th July, 1999 while spraying anti-regime slogans on the walls, He was beaten up so badly that his leg was broken and he had to be taken to the hospital. After three days he was transferred to the Intelligence Ministry's jail. He was interrogated and tortured there while in severe pain from his broken leg. After his temporary discharge, his father was summoned to the revolutionary court of Ahwaz for his son's political activities. Mehdi's father Hooshang was taken to the Intelligence Ministry's prison from the revolutionary court and interrogated there. Although he was unaware of his son's political activities, he was put under harsh pressure. He was released in the middle of the night and returned home, but later that night suffered a stroke and died.

In his funeral, the regime's agents were present to prevent any anti-Islamic regime protest from taking place. Hooshang's son protested at their presence. The regime's agents responded by swearing profanities at him and his family and arrested him again in front of his mother and sister's tearful eyes. While in detention he was told in no uncertain terms that should he ever reveal what was done to his father, he himself would end up like his father. Mehdi was released after three days of threats and torture in the middle of one of Ahwaz's streets.

Those who have witnessed the Islamic dungeons in both Tehran and smaller cities admit that the jail conditions in smaller cities, is much harsher than in Tehran. The injustice inflicted on Iranians is a national injustice which makes no exceptions on any Iranian ethnic groups, however should one be unfortunate enough to belong to one of those smaller ethnic and religious groups, one should prepare for receiving an even crueller treatment. Mehdi Hoveyzeri and his family were one of those ethnic minorities.

The young Ahwazi who was outraged by the regime's injustices continued with his activities and was rearrested. This time by the Intelligence units of the revolutionary guards and spent 20 days in solitary confinement. There he suffered more torture and humiliation, resulting in more injuries. After he was released on bail, he decides to continue with his activities in a different way. He decides to secretly film the poor ghettos of Khuzestan province, the unknown graves of political dissidents, and public executions.

He was assisted by his uncle Hamid Hoveyzeri, who passed on the footage to websites outside Iran. On 22nd July, 2004, Mehdi left home to film a public execution in Ahwaz's Chahar-Shir square. He acted with caution, but two plain clothes agents approached him, but he managed to escape through the crowds. He sought sanctuary with one of his friends and later fled to a remote village in Ahwaz.

The regime's agents however continued to search for him in Ahwaz and search his uncle's house. There they find more evidence of what Mehdi and his uncle were doing. Hamid Hoveyzeri was arrested and died under torture in detention. His body was not returned to his family but was found days later under a public bridge in Ahwaz.

The tragedy of Mehdi's family has happened to other families throughout Iran. A brutality inflicted by one of the most reactionary regimes in the world. How much longer should we have to bear witness to these tragedies in our land?