Kianoush Sanjari's Funeral Held in a 'Security Environment'; Abram Paley's Reaction

Reports from Tehran indicate that the funeral of Kianoush Sanjari, a former political prisoner and journalist, was held in a security-heavy environment at Behesht Zahra in Tehran. An informed individual present at Behesht Zahra on Friday, November 25, told Radio Farda that security forces only allowed a few close relatives and family members to attend Mr. Sanjari's funeral. This source reported a significant presence of security personnel around the burial site, stating that these officers did not allow people to approach the area. Hossein Razagh, a former political prisoner, also reported on X (formerly Twitter) that he went to Behesht Zahra on Friday morning with a few others, but Kianoush Sanjari's name was 'not among the bodies in the morgue.' He further noted, 'We suspected they had buried him quickly and secretly.' This political activist stated that upon moving towards section 250 of Behesht Zahra, he noticed a large number of security personnel. According to him, 'the circle of security forces, including police, special forces, and masked plainclothes officers, was expanding moment by moment, as if they were creating a corridor to prevent our entry into the section.' He also reported the detention of one of his companions and their subsequent release. Another political activist, Hossein Ronaghi, who had previously written about the circumstances of Mr. Sanjari's suicide and stated he would attend his funeral, reported his temporary detention. He announced on X that on Friday morning, on Navab Highway in Tehran, before reaching Behesht Zahra, 'several security vehicles' blocked the way and detained him and his companion. He continued, 'After confiscating all mobile and electronic devices, we were transferred to the Intelligence Ministry's follow-up office and were released around 2 PM.' Meanwhile, Abram Paley, the Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. for Iran, noted in a post on X on Friday, referring to Kianoush Sanjari's ongoing torture, that his death is another example of the Islamic Republic's 'cruelty' towards the Iranian people. He wrote, 'The regime repeatedly arrested and tortured Kianoush for his activities as a journalist. We echo his demand; all political prisoners in Iran must be released.' Kianoush Sanjari, who had lived in the U.S. for years and was a collaborator with the Persian section of Voice of America, had returned to Iran in recent years. He ended his life on November 23 in protest against the continued detention of numerous political activists in Iran. This incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Amnesty International issued a statement saying that 'years of interrogation, unjust detention, torture, and exile' tormented Kianoush Sanjari, and his oppressors 'went unpunished.' If you are having thoughts of suicide, please contact social emergency services at 123 or counseling centers.