Continued Pressure from the Islamic Republic to Prevent Commemoration of Protest Victims

As the anniversary of the victims of the nationwide protests of 2022 approaches, government institutions are continuing to pressure the families of the victims and those seeking justice to prevent them from holding memorial ceremonies. Government agents have threatened the families of the deceased in several cities, including Mahabad and Tehran, and have prevented people from gathering at the graves of the victims. Fatemeh Heydari, a member of the families seeking justice, reported on the pressure from government institutions on the families of several victims of the protests on November 5 in Mahabad. According to Fatemeh Heydari, Islamic Republic agents have contacted the families of the deceased in Mahabad, threatening them and stating that they "do not have the right to be present at the graves of their loved ones." In an Instagram post, Fatemeh Heydari reported that government forces have besieged the graves of the victims of the Mahabad protests, including Kobra Sheikheh, Fereshteh Ahmadi, Masoud Ahmadzadeh, Zanyar Abubakri, and Shaho Khazari, since Thursday, November 4, and have closed the cemetery gates. Additionally, the Dabban Legal Advice and Training Center reported the temporary detention of Ali Roozbehani's father and brother coinciding with the anniversary of this deceased protester in Tehran on Thursday, November 4, stating that the Roozbehani family was told they do not have the right to hold a memorial. According to this report, government agents informed the family of this deceased protester that only his father, brother, and sister are allowed to be present at his grave. Government agents also forced Ali Roozbehani's brother to delete his tweet commemorating the anniversary of this protester's death. Mohammad Roozbehani recently called for remembrance of his brother on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Can you remember my brother on Thursday? It will be one year since Ali was shot. Thursday is also his birthday; or it would have been if he hadn't been shot." Fatemeh Heydari also reported on X about the large presence of government forces and plainclothes agents around Ali Roozbehani's grave, stating that people were not allowed to approach the grave of this deceased protester. According to Fatemeh Heydari, Ali Roozbehani's family was only able to be at his grave for a few brief minutes. Ali Roozbehani, 35, was shot and killed by suppressive forces on November 4, 2022, in Tehran. In recent months, government agents have increased pressure and detained many members of the families of victims and those seeking justice in an effort to prevent memorial ceremonies for the victims of the 2022 protests. On Thursday, September 30, government forces attacked the family of Javad Heydari on the eve of the anniversary of his death in last year's protests, injuring several family members. Also see: Attack on Javad Heydari's family on the anniversary of his death; increased pressure on families seeking justice. Cancellation of Nika Shakerami's memorial under security pressures; Nika's mother: We cannot stand against the force, oppression, and tyranny of the ruling regime empty-handed. The Islamic Republic's efforts to prevent the commemoration of the victims of the protests continue. Continued solitary confinement; cases have been fabricated against Mashallah Karami and Amirhossein Kouhkan. Javad Heydari's sister: My father and brothers are under pressure for "forced confessions."