Hesam Alaeeddin dies in custody after protest over brother's Starlink arrest
Updated
Updated · Euronews · May 3
Hesam Alaeeddin dies in custody after protest over brother's Starlink arrest
5 articles · Updated · Euronews · May 3
The 40-year-old Tehran businessman, from the family behind Alaeddin Mall, reportedly went to security authorities to seek information on his detained brother.
The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation said he was beaten while under arrest, but Euronews said internet restrictions prevented independent verification and Iran's judiciary had not clarified its position.
Unconfirmed reports said his body was buried last Wednesday after being returned to relatives, amid a 64-day internet shutdown and warnings that Starlink users face legal action.
How does the Iranian regime's crackdown on Starlink users reshape the global debate on digital rights during wartime?
With Starlink access now punishable by death in Iran, what future do satellite-based networks have in authoritarian states facing conflict?
As millions risk everything for connectivity, can outside actors develop safer ways to preserve internet access under extreme repression?
Torture, Executions, and Digital Siege: How Iran’s 1,000-Hour Internet Blackout Fueled the Death of Hesam Alaeddin
Overview
In April 2026, Hesam Alaeddin was arrested and fatally beaten by Iranian security forces after being accused of possessing Starlink equipment, which the government criminalizes amid a severe, prolonged internet blackout. This blackout, intensified by war and protests, has lasted over 1,000 hours, cutting off most Iranians from global communication and fueling clandestine use of banned satellite internet. Alongside escalating executions and harsh repression targeting dissenters, the regime enforces silence through intimidation and concealment of deaths. International condemnation has grown, but the government remains defiant, framing protests as foreign-backed. Alaeddin's death symbolizes the high human cost of Iran's information control and the ongoing struggle for digital freedom.