They are not even allowed to hold memorials for their loved ones.  Some families discussed the pressures facing them with Rooz and demanded an investigation into the cause of their children’s death.

Air Javadifar, who was studying management at the Qazvin Azad University, is one such victim who was buried last week.  The lifeless body of this 25-year-old man, who was arrested on July 9, was delivered to his family last Sunday.  His family did not know about their son’s whereabouts or fate until then. 

 

What Does Unknown Death Mean?

Amir’s father, Ali Javadifar, told Rooz that he wants to know the cause of his son’s death.  Ali Javadifar, noting, “I gave them my healthy son,” added, “When receiving my son’s body, signs of beating and torture were visible on his body.  He continued, “When I identified my son’s body, his body was already autopsied and they announced that the cause of death is unknown.” 

He said, “I demand to know what the cause of my son’s death is.  I want them to tell me how my son was destroyed.  When receiving my son’s body, I asked the same thing.  They told me that a committee is investigating the matter and will respond to us after conclusions are made.” 

Mr. Javadifar was not told to which institution the committee belongs, but this mourning father visited the offices of the committee located in Tehran’s Jami street last Wednesday to find out what happened to his dead son.

 

Pressure on Neda’s Family

 

On Thursday, coinciding with Neda Agha Soltan’s fortieth day of mourning, a memorial was held at Behesht Zahra cemetery near the young woman’s grave.  Her mother announced that for certain reasons she cannot attend the memorial.  One of Neda Agha Soltan’s relatives told Rooz that Neda’s mother and sister were taken to an unknown location the day before and asked to sign a pledge under pressure not to attend Neda’s memorial at the Behesht Zahra.

As a result, while Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, along with thousands of Iranians, attended the Behesht Zahra memorial to commemorate Neda, Neda’s mother was forced to light a candle in a park near her house and mourn her daughter’s death in loneliness. 

 

Ghahremani Family Not Allowed to Mourn

The family of Ramin Ghahremani has not even been allowed to hold a simple memorial yet. 

Ramin Ghahremani was released from jail 15 days after his initial arrest, with visible signs of torture on his body.  After his release, he told his mother that he was hanged by his feet for several days and took severe blows to the head.  Ramin Ghahremani was admitted to the Milad Hospital after his release and passed away there.  One of Ramin Ghahremani’s relatives told Rooz, “At the hospital they told us that Ramin’s skull is broken, but after his death security officers took him away and returned his body to his family four days later.” 

According to this relative, the Ghahremani family was barred from holding a simple memorial at their house and are under heavy pressure to refrain from granting any interviews or disseminating information.

 

Mother of Victim Arrested

Meanwhile, reports point to the arrest of the mother of one victim in Kermanshah.  Zahra (Behjat) Norouzi, the mother of Pouya Maghsoud Beigi, a medical student at the Kermanshah Medical Sciences University, was arrested after wrapping her body in clay and staging a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Kermanshah. 

Pouya Maghsoud Beigi was arrested on June 20 by Kermanshah’s security officers and passed away after being released due to the prison’s harsh and extreme tortures. 

 

Identity of Two Other Victims

These developments follow the release of the identities of two other martyrs in the past two days.  Behzad Mohajer and Mostafa Kiarostami are two young men who joined the rank of those martyred in post-election clashes. 

The 22-year-old Mostafa Kiarostami was severely injured by Basiji and plain-clothed officers in front of the Tehran University on July 17 and died that night due to brain injuries.  The cause of his death, however, was announced to be brain stroke.

The body of Behzad Mohajer, another victim of the post-election protests, was delivered to his body on the afternoon of August 1 at the Kahrizak facility.  The 47-year-old Behzad Mohajer died after being shot in the chest.