Fatemeh Heydari, Sister of Justice-Seeker Javad Heydari: My Brother Mortaza Was Taken to Solitary Confinement on a Stretcher

Fatemeh Heydari, sister of Javad Heydari, one of the victims of the nationwide protests in 2022, reported on Tuesday, September 25, that her brother Mortaza Heydari has been transferred to solitary confinement. Fatemeh Heydari, whose father and two other brothers are currently detained, stated that Mortaza Heydari has been on a "dry hunger strike" for four days despite suffering from diabetes and is "forbidden from visitation and communication" in solitary confinement. She emphasized that "the responsibility for preserving my brother's life and health lies with the Islamic Republic," adding, "They didn't even allow my mother to see him to request an end to his hunger strike." Fatemeh Heydari had previously posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) stating: "My brother Mortaza was taken to solitary confinement on a stretcher instead of the hospital on the fourth day of his hunger strike." On Sunday, September 24, she tweeted that her father and brothers had been transferred to Chubinder Prison in Qazvin and are "still under pressure for forced confessions." Ms. Heydari warned that "his life is in danger" after three days of her brother's hunger strike. She also mentioned that her mother is not in good health due to all the psychological and physical pressure. On Saturday, September 23, she shared images of the attack by Islamic Republic security forces on her family's home, accusing them of using "bullets and tear gas" and claiming they even used tear gas on a two-year-old, resulting in her mother's hospitalization. Fatemeh Heydari accused the Islamic Republic officials of "holding her father and brothers hostage" to distort the reality. She had also reported earlier that her brother Mortaza was transferred to detention after being discharged from the hospital and that he is still on hunger strike. On Thursday, September 21, the Islamic Republic's security forces attacked Javad Heydari's family, injuring several family members just before the anniversary of Javad's death during last year's protests. Fatemeh Heydari stated that the Islamic Republic's security forces attacked her family "with live ammunition" on the anniversary of her brother's death. She warned that internet and other communication channels have been cut off, creating "a humanitarian disaster." Ms. Heydari expressed concern that after killing her brother, the Islamic Republic intends to kill her family. Videos circulating on social media show children and women screaming in response to the attack by the Islamic Republic's security forces. In other videos, two children from the Heydari family are seen being injured and attacked with tear gas. Voice of America cannot independently verify all these accounts and their narratives. Fatemeh Heydari also shared another photo of two young family members who had also been severely injured and attacked with tear gas. She accused the Islamic Republic of "holding her family hostage" and cutting off the internet in their village, expressing concern about "what they might do to my family." Just a day earlier, Fatemeh Heydari reported the detention of her brother and some relatives aimed at "increasing pressure on the family to prevent the anniversary ceremony" for her brother. This justice-seeking family member emphasized that they have "no fear" of the government’s "mercenaries." On Thursday and Friday, September 30 and October 1, marked the anniversary of the deaths of over 40 Iranian protesters against the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in police custody. In recent weeks, the Islamic Republic has intensified pressure and detentions of many families of victims and justice-seekers to prevent them from holding memorial ceremonies. Javad Heydari was shot by the Islamic Republic's security forces on September 22 last year during protests against Mahsa's death near Mellat Park in Qazvin and died hours later. During the fortieth memorial for Javad on November 3 last year, dozens of residents from the village of Rahmatabad Bozorg Dashtabi were arrested for participating in it. The intensification of pressure on justice-seeking families and the continued detention of citizens is an ongoing effort by the Islamic Republic to prevent memorial ceremonies for the victims of protests.