Iranian security forces detained the father of young Kurdish Mahsa Amini on Saturday to pressure him not to mark the first anniversary of his daughter’s death, according to two human rights groups.
The 22-year-old’s father, Amjad Amini, “He was detained this morning by Iranian repressive forces” as he left his home in Saqez, Kurdistan, “and returned hours later”according to Iran Human Rights (IHR), a non-governmental organization opposing the Iranian regime based in Oslo, Norway.
A year ago Saturday, Masha Amini died after being detained by Iranian customs police for not wearing the Islamic veil, an episode that sparked unprecedented civilian demonstrations against the theocratic regime in Tehran, which violently suppressed the protests, which are still ongoing.
The IHL information about the detention was confirmed by the action group Hengaw Organization for Human Rightswhich denounces human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan, and which attributes the detention of Amjad Amini to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the regime in Tehran.
Amjad Amini was taken for questioning at least four times in recent weeks by various security forces, who pressured and disrespected him, Hengaw said.
In information published on its website, despite warnings from authorities, the Amini family stated in a statement: “Like any grieving family, on the anniversary of her death, we, the Amini family, will gather at the grave of our beloved daughter, Jina (Mahsa) Amini, and perform traditional and religious ceremonies.”
According to the two organizations Masha Amini’s childhood home is ‘surrounded by military personnel’ to prevent a religious ceremony from taking place to mark the young woman’s death.
Iranian security forces imposed strict restrictions on access to the cemetery where Amini is buried and where the wave of civilian protests began the day after her death.
Under the slogans “woman, life, freedom”, thousands of demonstrators called for the end of the regime, in protests that resulted in 500 deaths, including seven executed (one of them in public)and thousands of prisoners.
In recent weeks, Iranian authorities have stepped up warnings and repressive measures in an effort to prevent the first anniversary of Amini’s death from turning into new demonstrations.
According to Amnesty International, dozens of relatives of people killed in the demonstrations were arbitrarily detained, while at the same time access restrictions were imposed at the places where they are buried, and there was even a report of the destruction of gravestones.
Safa Aeli, Amini’s uncle, was arrested last week in Saqez, where he lives, and his whereabouts have not been known since.
Amini was detained by Iranian customs police on September 13, 2022, for alleged misuse of the ‘hijab’, the Islamic veil, after she emerged dead three days later while still in police custody.
Despite the visibility of the protests and international attention, the civil movement has not yet succeeded in threatening the foundations of the theocratic regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, announced on Thursday the imposition of sanctions against 25 Iranian citizens (members of the security forces and the Revolutionary Guard), three intelligence services (the Press TV and the Tasnim and Fars agencies) . and a company “linked to internet censorship” in the country – all related to the suppression of civil demonstrations.
This Saturday, Iranian diplomacy spokesman Nasser Kanani responded to the sanctions, classifying them as “interventionist statements” and “ridiculous and hypocritical spectacles.”
Source: DN
