The Islamic Republic's Efforts to Prevent Commemoration Ceremonies for Victims of Protests

As the anniversary of the victims of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and nationwide protests in Iran approaches, pressure on the families of the victims as well as civil and political activists from government and judicial officials of the Islamic Republic has intensified. In this context, government forces are exerting significant pressure to prevent the holding of memorial ceremonies for the victims of the nationwide protests of 2022. Human rights organization Hengaw reported that on Thursday, September 30, the road leading to the 'Bagh Rezvan' cemetery in Islamabad Gharb (Shabad) was blocked by armed forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Hengaw, this action was taken in light of the anniversary of the deaths of Saeed Mohammadi, Amir Fooladi, and Iman Mohammadi, three young men from this city who died during last year's protests. The organization reported that on Wednesday, September 29, the IRGC intelligence summoned citizens and media activists in Islamabad Gharb (Shabad) and interrogated them regarding what was termed a 'call to hold a protest gathering.' Furthermore, the Intelligence Department of Kermanshah has temporarily detained several civil and social activists, threatening them to refrain from publishing content about the victims of the Women, Life, Freedom movement. Previously, due to government pressure on the family of Nika Shakeri, whose sister also reported it, the memorial ceremony planned at her grave in Hayat al-Ghayb, Lorestan, was canceled. Nasrin Shakeri, Nika's mother, wrote on her Instagram page on Wednesday: 'The decision was to hold a ceremony to commemorate my dear child Nika on the first anniversary of her death. Therefore, considering the problems that have arisen and that I do not want to harm other dear and honorable compatriots attending this ceremony, I am forced to cancel the event.' Nika's mother also wrote: 'God willing, at a more suitable opportunity, we will prove that we are a great nation and we will take back Iran.' Fatemeh Heydari, sister of Javad Heydari, one of the victims of the nationwide protests of 2022, also reported on Tuesday, September 7, about government agents' pressure on her family ahead of her brother's anniversary. She posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): 'My brother Mohammad was arrested after Javad's fortieth day and was fired from his job; then, his two-year-old child Delvan was also arrested.' Meanwhile, Arasham Rezaei, a constitutional activist, reported a 'raid' by 12 government agents 'disguised as electricity department officials' on his mother's house with the intent to arrest her. Following the arrest of four family members of Hananeh Kia, a relative of the deceased protester in Mazandaran, it was reported to Voice of America that after the arrests, on Tuesday, the forces of the Islamic Republic searched the parents' home of Hananeh after breaking the door. Hengaw had previously reported that based on images received on September 5, 'government agencies' of the Islamic Republic installed 'citizen control and identification cameras' under the title 'urban monitoring system' at the entrance of Aichi cemetery in Saqqez, which is close to the grave of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. Amjad Amini had previously emphasized in an exclusive interview with Voice of America: 'To honor the name and memory of the martyr and innocent Zhina (Mahsa) and to bring solace to the family and relatives and all her supporters, we intend to hold the anniversary ceremony this year. However, certainly, given the circumstances, we cannot officially invite people to the ceremony or tell them not to participate.' Several labor and teacher activists have been arrested in several cities in Iran. The detention of Farhad Hosseini has been extended; the status of seven detainees in Tabriz remains unclear. Pressure on the families of victims continues, and citizens are still being detained. Khaled Pirzadeh, a political activist, has been arrested again and transferred to an unknown location. The status of a Bukani protester remains unknown ten months after his arrest; Osman Mama has 'likely' died under torture. Summons and arrests of dozens of civil activists and pressure on the victims' families continue.