Viral Show Season 6 Episode 6 – Interview with Masoud Alizadeh Part 2

In this episode of Viral Show by Alara Entertainment, we revisit the harrowing account of Masoud Alizadeh, one of the survivors of this catastrophe a story of blood, infection, parched lips, and ultimately, a will that refused to break under the blows of pipes and chains.

Entering Quarantine: The Nightmare of Chemical Spraying

In this interview, Masoud Alizadeh begins his account from the moment he entered the Kahrizak quarantine. He describes an environment that smelled of death. Upon arrival, the detainees were placed in a confined space and sprayed with chemical disinfectants.

“We were pounding on the doors, screaming that we were dying, that we were being destroyed alive. One by one, our friends began foaming at the mouth and losing consciousness.”

Brutal Torture: Hanging by the Feet

A significant portion of Alizadeh’s narrative is dedicated to agonizing physical torture. He names an individual called “Khamsabadi” who attacked prisoners like a wild animal. Masoud was hung from the ceiling for an extended period using sharp iron shackles that cut into his ankles.

He recalls: “For 20 straight minutes, they beat my back and legs with a pipe. While hanging, my tongue protruded from my mouth and my head felt immensely heavy.” The presence of others, such as “Officer Ganjbakhsh” alongside the main torturers, pointed to a systematic and organized form of collective violence. In those bitter moments, Masoud would try to fake sleep to escape the reality that a human being could treat another this way.

Prayers That Did Not Stop the Torture

One of the bitter paradoxes of Kahrizak was the detainees’ recourse to religious chants to stop the violence. Masoud explains that cellmates would recite “Salawat” (prayers) to calm the torturers, but it had no effect on their hearts of stone. This demonstrates that for the perpetrators, neither religion nor humanity acted as a deterrent to violence.

The Padlock and Devastating Blows to the Head

Even after the initial torture sessions, the brutality continued. An individual known as “Mohammadi-Fil” attacked Masoud with a heavy padlock. The blows to Masoud’s head and face resulted in a skull fracture, severe ear bleeding, and displaced teeth. Masoud says: “They tore my clothes and slammed me onto the ground naked. At that moment, I only wished someone would plunge a knife into my heart to end the misery.”

The image of the torturer pressing his foot onto Masoud’s throat while he struggled for air is deeply disturbing. To avoid suffocation, he had to scratch at the skin of his own neck to create a passage for air.

The Victims of Kahrizak: Thirst and Innocence

A major part of Masoud Alizadeh’s story is dedicated to his fallen friends:

• Amir Javadifar
  Masoud speaks of Amir’s lost eyesight. During the transfer to Evin Prison, while suffering from extreme thirst and watching guards drink cold water in front of him, Amir passed away.
• Mohsen Ruholamini
  The son of a government official who refused to use his father’s influence to escape. Despite a severe back infection, Mohsen remained resilient and encouraged others until his last breath.
• Mohammad Kamrani
  A youth who had not even reached the legal voting age. He suffered seizures in Evin and later died in the hospital while his hands and feet were chained to the bed.

Show Trials and the Laughter of the Accused

Masoud describes seven court sessions trials where the accused laughed at the victims instead of being held accountable. He notes that despite figures like Judge Mortazavi, Radan, and Haddad being the main culprits, none faced real justice. Even after being released on bail, Masoud was pressured to give a forced television confession claiming they were treated well in Kahrizak.

Assassination Attempt and Fleeing Iran

The pressure on Masoud did not end after his release. In 2010, he was stabbed in a street attack that resulted in a ruptured spleen and diaphragm. Eventually, in 2011, he was forced to flee Iran through the mountains to Turkey, and later sought asylum in Germany.

Life in Exile: The Nightmares That Remain

Masoud Alizadeh now lives in Germany, but the wounds of Kahrizak remain with him. He believes that every new uprising in Iran brings back those bitter memories. Nevertheless, he is now married and strives to be the voice of those still undergoing torture in Iranian prisons.