Pressure from the Islamic Republic on Protesters; Teacher Arrested for Celebrating the Birthday of Abolfazl Adinehzadeh

The Coordinating Council of Cultural Associations of Iran reported the arrest of a teacher, Mehdi Sheibani, who celebrated the birthday of Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, a teenager killed during last year's protests. According to the report, Mehdi Sheibani was arrested after attending a birthday celebration and memorial for Abolfazl Adinehzadeh in Mashhad. In a released video, Mehdi Sheibani blows out the candles on Abolfazl Adinehzadeh's 18th birthday cake and raises his fingers in a victory sign. No information has been released regarding the charges against this arrested teacher or his place of detention. Abolfazl Adinehzadeh's father, mother, and sister were also detained for a period in June of this year and were released on bail. Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, a 17-year-old, was shot dead by security forces during the nationwide protests last year in Mashhad. The pressure from security institutions on the families of the victims and their relatives has intensified in recent months, especially as the anniversary of the nationwide protests approaches. According to the Committee for the Follow-up of the Status of Detainees, the number of detained family members of victims has increased to 32 between August 17 and September 22 of this year. The report also states that the father and two brothers of Javad Heydari, another victim of last year's protests, have also been arrested. Fatemeh Heydari, Javad Heydari's sister, reported on September 21 about the attack by government agents on her family members and their beating ahead of the anniversary of her brother's death. Human Rights Watch emphasized in a statement that Iranian officials have increased their repression of dissenters through intimidation, arrests, and prosecution. The attack on Javad Heydari's family on the anniversary of his death; increased pressure on the families of victims; the Islamic Republic's efforts to prevent memorial ceremonies for the victims of protests; the intensification of pressure on the families of victims and the continued detention of citizens; the ongoing arrests of protesters in Iran; Yasser Rahmani Rad and Zeinab Kazemi have been arrested again.