Reaction of Mahsa Amini's Mother to the Broken Glass of Her Daughter's Grave: Zhina is 'the Love of the Entire Iranian Nation'

Following the breaking of the glass of Mahsa Amini's grave for the second time, her brother and mother reacted to this act. Simultaneously, a journalist who was arrested after interviewing Mahsa Amini's father stated that the Islamic Republic does not allow her to remain a journalist. Mojgan Ekhtiyari, Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's mother, on Sunday, May 21, shared a picture of her daughter's grave with the broken glass on her Instagram story, writing that 'Zhina Mahsa Amini is the love of God and all the people of Iran and the world.' Without directly referencing those responsible for the destruction of Mahsa Amini's grave, she emphasized, 'With your actions, you are only proving your own disgrace.' Ashkan Amini, Mahsa's brother, also stressed that the glass of his sister's grave has been broken for the second time, stating, 'Even the glass of your gravestone bothers them. Even if they break it a thousand times, we will fix it again. Let's see who gets tired first.' The destruction of the graves of those killed in protests has a precedent; for instance, in April, the father of Mohsen Shekari, a young protester executed by the Islamic Republic, reported the destruction of his son's gravestone for the second time in a week. A journalist who was arrested after interviewing Mahsa Amini's father stated that after being released from prison, she has made every effort to remain a journalist 'but they do not allow it.' Nazila Maroufian tweeted on Sunday, 'Wherever I go, until the last moment, things go well, but in the end, they say, 'Sorry! We are not willing to cooperate with you,' even though they had initially offered to cooperate.' Ms. Maroufian stated that to support her living expenses, she is 'currently' forced to look for another job. Pressure on lawyers, civil activists, and journalists is among the actions of the Islamic Republic authorities following the protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death. In addition to Nazila Maroufian, dozens of journalists have been arrested in recent months in Iran, some of whom, including Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, are still in prison. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, aged 22, died in the custody of the morality police on September 16, 2022, sparking ongoing protests across Iran and the world. During these protests, over 500 people, including 71 children, were killed, and thousands were arrested, with the Islamic Republic executing seven protesters so far.