Civil Activists: The Islamic Republic is Responsible for Kianoush Sanjari's Death

A number of civil activists have issued a statement holding the Islamic Republic responsible for the death of Kianoush Sanjari, a civil activist and former collaborator of Voice of America, stating that they are "carefully examining the circumstances surrounding the end of the life of their fallen comrade." Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist, human rights activist, and former political prisoner, ended his life on Wednesday, November 14, in protest against the conditions of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic. In their statement, 17 civil activists declared, "We hold the Islamic Republic responsible for the situation that brought Kianoush to this point," adding, "It must be clarified what happened in the final moments of this young patriot's fruitful life and what other factors were involved in this matter." The statement references Kianoush Sanjari's political activism and his repeated arrests, imprisonment, and torture, noting, "This former member of the United Student Front never retreated in the face of the Islamic Republic's brutal pressures and repressions." The statement further emphasizes that Kianoush Sanjari "remained hopeful for a better future for Iran despite the immense and unbearable pressures he endured." They wrote, "The heavy and intolerable pressures led him to a point where, in protest against this repression and injustice, he ended his life, a conclusion made for his sacred cause." Signatories of this statement include Ahmad Batebi, Kourosh Sahati, Ardeshir Zarehzadeh, Sepideh Pouraghaei, and Manoochehr Mohammadi. One day before ending his life, Kianoush Sanjari announced that if the Islamic Republic did not release four political prisoners—Fatemeh Sepahri, Nasrin Shakeri, Tomaj Salehi, and Arsham Rezai—within the next 24 hours, he would end his life in protest against "the dictatorship of Ali Khamenei and his associates." His funeral was held on Friday, November 25, at Behesht Zahra in Tehran under heavy security, with government agents preventing public attendance. Sanjari's decision to end his life as a form of protest sparked widespread reactions from civil, political, and cultural figures both inside and outside Iran. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State expressed condolences on Thursday, November 24, and sympathized with his family, stating, "His death and other recent suicides among youth in Iran reflect the growing despair of Iranian youth towards a regime that suppresses their most basic human rights." Amnesty International responded to the incident in a statement, saying, "Years of interrogation, unlawful detention, torture, and exile have cast a shadow over Kianoush Sanjari's life, yet his oppressors remain unpunished." This human rights organization emphasized, "His death is our collective sorrow and strengthens our call for justice." Kianoush Sanjari, who had been arrested more than nine times and had been detained multiple times by the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic in mental health facilities, had previously told Voice of America that he paid the price for his love for Iran with torture, humiliation, and imprisonment. He had also exposed the project of driving political prisoners insane. Memorials for Kianoush Sanjari were held in front of the Canadian Parliament, and there were widespread reactions to his self-inflicted death, with the Islamic Republic being held responsible. Government forces prevented public attendance at Kianoush Sanjari's funeral. Arsham Rezai from prison asked, "How many more must end their lives before we wake up?" The U.S. Department of State stated exclusively that Sanjari's death is a sign of the despair of Iranian youth. Reactions to Kianoush Sanjari's death were seen as an indictment against the Islamic Republic. The President of Voice of America expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Kianoush Sanjari, a former colleague of the Persian section. Suicide; a heavy price imposed by the Islamic Republic on a former Voice of America collaborator.