Destruction of Nasim Rahmanifar's Grave; Protest Gathering of Families of Flight PS752 Victims in Behesht Zahra

Following the destruction of the gravestone of Nasim Rahmanifar, one of the victims of the IRGC missile attack on the Ukrainian passenger plane, a number of family members seeking justice for this incident gathered in Behesht Zahra. This protest, held on Monday, August 14, in Behesht Zahra, Tehran, saw the families of the victims demanding an end to the serial destruction of the gravestones of the deceased. During the protest, some women did not wear mandatory hijab, and some held images of the victims and placards with protest messages. One placard read: 'The series of destruction of gravestones and photos of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash has reached Nasim after Arshia and Rouja. We will not tolerate further disrespect.' The destruction of gravestones and photos in Iran by individuals believed to be agents of the Islamic Republic has occurred multiple times before. In recent months, the graves of victims of nationwide protests have been repeatedly destroyed. After the burning of the grave of Majid Kazemi, an executed protester, his cousin stated that this act was carried out by agents of the Islamic Republic and 'will backfire on them.' The methods used in the destruction of the graves of opponents of the Islamic Republic and victims of human rights violations in Iran include pouring tar, breaking glass pictures, cutting down trees planted on the graves, and damaging gravestones. Since the 1979 Revolution, many families of executed individuals have faced similar harassment.