Saeed Zinani's Mother: Did the Interrogator Say They Were Looking for Two Pieces of Bone?

Akram Naqabi, the mother of Saeed Zinani, a missing student during the events of July 9, 1999, has responded to recent comments by Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the first deputy and spokesperson of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic. In a letter to Mr. Ejei, a copy of which was provided to Radio Farda on Tuesday, January 5, she stated: "After 17 years, we are surprised to see that our roles have reversed, and it is us who must provide evidence for the detention of our son." In a recent press conference, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that "no document regarding the detention" of Saeed Zinani has been found, adding: "I have previously pursued this matter and asked those claiming his detention to provide evidence or even a clue, but they did not have even a hint." Addressing a reporter who raised this question, the Judiciary spokesperson said: "If you say one of the security branches has confirmed this detention, tell me so I can follow up and understand why this individual has not reported until now, or if they have reported, to whom they reported it." Ms. Naqabi addressed Mr. Ejei, asking: "For which political prisoner do you provide written documentation of their detention to their family that you have provided to me? When you detained me and my daughter, did you give us documentation? When you detained my husband a month ago, and I did not know where he was taken for six days, did you give me documentation? And 17 years ago, was I given documentation for Saeed that I should now present?" Ms. Naqabi also mentioned the evidence she possesses, stating: "There were several calls to our home from Evin Prison, where the caller introduced himself as someone from Evin's intelligence and informed us of Saeed's well-being. In one of the calls, they asked me about Saeed's activities, and there was a call from Saeed himself saying he was fine and to follow up on his matters." "The surprise search by armed security personnel who took all of Saeed's documents and books without permission and identification," the words of an individual named "Seyyed" during the inspection of their home who said, "Your son has entered into a series of political matters that need to be investigated," and "the responses of officials at the time, such as Mr. Salarikia, Naghdi, Kowsari, Colonel Fatemi, and Mousavi Khoeini, who each vaguely did not deny Saeed's detention and only said to wait until Saeed's case was completed, and we will inform you, and for now, there is nothing we can do," are other instances Ms. Naqabi cited as reasons for her son's detention. Ms. Naqabi also added that "another piece of evidence" is the words of the "interrogators" directed at her and her daughter, who told them: "Are you looking for two pieces of bone? We have nothing else to give you." Akram Naqabi further addressed Mr. Mohseni Ejei, saying: "Or your interrogator's suggestion that if you want to avoid causing problems for your family and other children, calm yourself in some way; we do not have a gravestone to give you, go to the martyrs' section, choose one of the martyrs, and share your sorrows with him instead of your Saeed to find peace." Saeed Zinani was a student who, according to his family, was arrested in front of his mother on July 13, 1999, just days after the attack on Tehran University dormitories, at the age of 22, and since then, no information about his status has been available. In recent years, family members of this student have been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for pursuing his status.