2023-08-21 09:16:29
As the anniversary of the protests approaches, families of those killed fear the authorities will resort to well-known repressive tactics to prevent them from holding memorial services,” said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director International.
“The international community must stand by the families of those killed by urging the Iranian authorities, through diplomatic channels and publicly, to respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly in the country. Families shall be protected from arbitrary detention, threats and other reprisals. States must also urge the Iranian authorities to release all those detained solely for speaking out for truth and justice for those killed. The convictions and penalties against them should be reversed and all charges against those who merely exercised their right to freedom of expression dropped.”
Hundreds of people, including children, were unlawfully killed by the security forces during the nationwide protests that broke out in Iran following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022. No one has been held accountable for this brutal crackdown.
Brutal repression and violence: Iranian authorities attacked families of victims
Amnesty International documents in their latest report on how 36 families from ten provinces across the country have been victims of human rights abuses in the past few months. Among them are the families of 33 people unlawfully killed by security forces during the protests; the families of two people who were arbitrarily executed in connection with the protests; and the family of a person who was tortured in custody and committed suicide after being released.
Human rights abuses perpetrated against the families of those killed ranged from arbitrary arrest and detention to unfair prosecutions on vague national security-related charges, in some cases leading to imprisonment and corporal punishment. In addition, victims were summoned and interrogated under duress by prosecutors or the police, and some were unlawfully monitored. The authorities also do not shy away from destroying or desecrating graves.
In July 2023, the mother of 16-year-old Artin Rahmani, who was shot dead by security forces on November 16, 2022 in Izeh, Khuzestan province, said on Twitter: “The authorities of the Islamic Republic killed my innocent son, my brother and my relatives imprisoned and summoned to the prosecutor’s office to silence me for daring to demand justice for the killing of my child. People in Iran have no right to protest and any demand for freedom is repressed with great violence.”
Authorities have also attempted to prevent the families of those killed from holding services at their relatives’ graves, e.g. B. on the birthday of the dead. When families did hold memorial services, they reported a heavy security presence, who used violence against those present, took pictures, and beat or arbitrarily arrested family members.
defacement of graves
Amnesty International documented and published visuals about the destruction of the graves of more than 20 dead in 17 cities. Tombs were smeared with tar and paint or damaged by arson. Tombstones were destroyed and inscriptions describing the victims as “martyrs” or those killed for freedom were removed. Authorities have so far failed to launch an investigation to identify and hold those allegedly responsible, or to prevent further destruction of grave sites.
In some cases, graves were desecrated in front of family members. In other cases, this happened overnight or at times when no one was present. Before that, the authorities had repeatedly threatened to destroy tombstones expressing support for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement or with inscriptions suggesting that the person had died an unnatural death as a result of political repression.
To the person who attacked me with a baton, pulled my hair, and trampled on my brother’s grave in front of me on my brother’s birthday… How did you judge yourself for that? I have no doubt as to who my brother’s killers are… Our family has not gone before any Iranian court… as there is no point in filing a complaint against the killers with the killers…
Instagram, April 2023: Posting by the sister of Milad Saeedianjoo, who was shot dead by security forces on November 15, 2022 in Izeh, Khuzestan province;
Jina Mahsa Amini’s family has repeatedly desecrated her grave (see title picture) already publicly denounced. Authorities have announced major changes for Saqqez’s Aichi Cemetery in Kurdistan Province, where she is buried. This would make her tomb less accessible to the public. The tomb of Jina Mahsa Amini has become a gathering place for the families of those who have died to find comfort together, show mutual solidarity and voice their determined demands for justice.
Iran: Protest must not be punished with death!
Several people have already been executed in connection with the nationwide protests. Many others face execution. The Iranian authorities are using the death penalty as a tool of political repression to frighten people and crush the protest movement. Peaceful protest is a human right. He must not be punished with death. Demand with us now that the death sentences be lifted and no more pronounced!
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