Global IssuesIRAN: Victims' Families Share Stories, Defying Pressure
It has become common these days to hear about the killing of young Iranians at the hands of Iran's security forces and Basij militia. So many families have come forward with heart-wrenching tales about the deaths of their children in prison or during peaceful protests, it is difficult to keep count.
While each story is unique, all speak of serious human rights violations, extreme violence, and an unaccountable court, prison and security system that gives families the runaround. Another common thread is the pressures that families face when trying to claim the bodies of their children or to hold funeral and memorial services.
Those who have come forward confirmed to IPS that they faced pressure to keep silent about the manner in which their children have been killed and to forgo funeral and memorial services. Many have chosen to hold quiet burial services and not the traditional memorial services that follow on the third, seventh and fortieth day after burial, fearing that the services may draw large crowds, leading to protests, and once again ending in violence, arrests and death.
Since Parvin Fahimi, the mother of Sohrab Arabi, made public the story her 26-day ordeal to find her son, who was finally discovered in a morgue, many families have followed suit. Fahimi has vowed not to stay silent about the wrongful death of her 19-year old son, who was shot on Jun. 15 during a peaceful protest against the Jun. 12 election results that drew a crowd of millions.
While Fahimi was prevented from holding the customary funeral services following the burial of her son, crowds of visitors, including presidential contenders turned opposition leaders Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, have congregated in her home to offer their condolences on a nightly basis since her son's death was made public.
The night following Sohrab's burial, residents of the apartment complex where the family lives lined the streets leading to their home with candles. Crowds of hundreds of residents gather on a nightly basis, chanting 'Allah-o-Akbar', 'death to the dictator' and 'Our Sohrab has not died, it is the government which has died.'
On one of these nights, the family of Neda Agha Soltan visited Fahimi to offer their condolences.
The Agha Soltan family had remained silent after the death of Neda, 27, who died as a result of a gunshot wound, reportedly inflicted by a Basij sniper, during a peaceful protest on Jun. 30. The murder was captured on video and she has since transformed into a symbol of the struggle of Iranians for freedom and justice.
A few nights later, Fahimi and her two sons, along with several women's rights and social and political activists, visited with the Agha Soltan family. Among the guests, was Sohrabi, the mother of Ashkan Sohrabi, 18, another victim of the recent violence.
The three mothers, clad in black, sat side by side, crying as they listened to each other's stories.
Ashkan's mother was especially fragile, still consumed with disbelief and grief.
'My son was so good. Ask anyone,' Ashkan's mother sobbed.
She went on to describe what had transpired shortly before the death of her son. 'I was home and preparing dinner. Ashkan told me that he was going to see a friend and would be back soon. I was worried about the protests and told him to come back quickly. 'I'll be back before you finish making the salad,' he said.'
When Ashkan did not return, his mother began to worry. A friend came to the family home to inform them that Ashkan had been shot.
'I went to Ashkan as quickly as I could,' his mother recounted.
'Mother, it burned,' was all that Ashkan managed to utter. He died shortly after being transferred to hospital. According to reports, he had suffered three gunshot wounds.
Ashkan's mother said security forces harassed the family about funeral and memorial services for her son.
Neda's mother described her daughter as strong-willed and independent.
'She was a curious girl and was always looking for answers. She was studying music and had a good voice. It was her inquisitive nature that led her to study divinity, but she withdrew from the university,' she said of her daughter.
According to Neda's younger brother, 'Neda was unique. Her appearance was different from the other students who study divinity [who are fully veiled]. Her inquisitiveness and her refusal to conform made it difficult for her at university and she finally decided to pursue these studies on her own.'
According to Neda's mother, they had attended several protests together.
'On that day, I could not go, so Neda went with her music teacher,' her mother recalled. 'She called me several times to report on what was transpiring. I spoke to her only 10 minutes before she was shot.'
Hamid Panahi, Neda's music teacher, who was also present at the visit, explained the events of that day.
'We were laughing and talking. But then there was violence and teargas, and we fled to a side street in search of safety,' he said. 'It was exactly 6:10 pm when I heard a shot fired and then Neda was on the ground.'
According to the Agha Soltan family, security forces were always polite and acted as if they were trying to find Neda's murderer.
'They interrogated all her friends and while they did not actually prevent us from holding funeral services, the mosques we reserved for the occasion, refuse us space,' a family member said. 'Finally we managed to secure a mosque, but we decided to cancel the memorial, as Neda's death had received a lot of publicity and we were fearful of protests and more violence.'
'Perhaps if we had gone through with the memorial, this mosque would have cancelled too,' added Neda's older sister.
Neda's family members also explained that at the cemetery where they tried to reserve restaurant space for their guests, they were shown a general directive from the Ministry of Intelligence ordering mosques to refuse space for memorial and funeral services for those who had been killed in the recent violence.
As for Fahimi, Sorhab's mother, she has vowed to pursue all legal means and also to publicise the case of her son. To this end she has written several complaint letters, including one to Judiciary head Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
'We need to publicise these cases, and press officials for answers. There are other families who are in a similar position who need answers,' Fahimi said.
True to her word, Fahimi testified in front of the Tehran City Council. The video of her testimony was made available on the internet. While at times losing her composure and breaking into tears, Fahimi described her ordeal and the search for Sohrab.
'I lost my son on Jun. 25, at the protest,' she said. For 26 days, she went to hospitals, the courts, prisons, police stations, until finally she found her son in the morgue.
'Please, I just want to know why my child died. Only because of his vote, because he objected,' Fahimi testified. 'What did he want from the government? Except for peace, freedom of thought? This is important - the fact that my child thinks of who he is voting for and what has happened to his vote. He didn't ask for anything else.'
Tearful, but in a strong, determined, and at times angry tone, Fahimi concluded her testimony: 'Did he have to die because he supported Mr. Mousavi? Based on what sin? My child was young he was 19. He had not yet realised any of his dreams.'
© Inter Press Service (2009) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service