Pili: The Death of Kianoush Sanjari Reflects the 'Brutality' of the Islamic Republic

Abram Pili, Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. Department of State for Iran, described the death of Kianoush Sanjari as a "tragic example" of the brutality of the Islamic Republic against the people of Iran in a message posted on social media platform 'X' on Friday, November 17. Pili added that the Islamic Republic had repeatedly arrested and tortured Sanjari due to his journalistic activities. The Deputy Special Representative concluded by reiterating his call for the release of all political prisoners in Iran. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State expressed condolences over the passing of Kianoush Sanjari, a former journalist for the Persian section of Voice of America, and extended sympathy to his family. The spokesperson stated, "We are saddened by the death of Kianoush Sanjari, a former journalist for the Persian section of Voice of America, and we sympathize with his family." The spokesperson added, "His death and other recent suicides of young people in Iran indicate the increasing despair of Iranian youth towards a regime that suppresses their most basic human rights." Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist and former political prisoner, ended his life on Wednesday, November 15, in protest against the conditions of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic. Just a day before taking his life, Sanjari had announced that if the Islamic Republic did not release four political prisoners—Fatemeh Sepahri, Nasrin Shakeri, Tomaj Salehi, and Arasham Rezai—within 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 17, 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. Civil activists stated that the Islamic Republic is responsible for Kianoush Sanjari's death, and there were reports of violence by government agents during his funeral. Arasham Rezai, from prison, questioned how many more must end their lives before society awakens. The U.S. Department of State reiterated that Sanjari's death is a sign of the despair among Iranian youth, and reactions to his death have been described as an indictment against the Islamic Republic.