Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has called for a UN fact-finding committee to investigate the death of Khosrow Alikordi, an attorney known for representing political prisoners and activists.
Alikordi, a former political prisoner and outspoken critic of Irans clerical establishment, was found dead on December 5 in his office in the northeastern city of Mashhad. He was 46.
The official cause of death was given as a heart attack, with local officials ruling out unnatural causes. But some lawyers and activists have described his death as "suspicious" and others called it outright "murder," although they have not provided any proof to back their claims.
Rights groups, including the Norway-based Iran Human Rights and the International Organization to Preserve Human Rights, have called for an independent inquiry into Alikordi's death.
Sotoudeh, speaking to RFE/RLs Radio Farda from Iran, said Alikordi was an honorable lawyer who was under extreme legal and security pressure for nearly two decades.
Sotoudeh said the authorities "had done to him everything you could do to a critic" -- from imprisonment toblockinghim from practicing law. She added that Alikordi was acutely aware of the threats against him, which is why he had installed 16 cameras in his office. Those cameras have since been confiscated, she added.
"There are ample grounds to doubt the coroner's report," said Sotoudeh. "A UN fact-finding mission has the legal authority to press Iran for answers."
