Iran: Ceremony for murdered Kazerun protesters

Demonstration in Kazerun (File Photo)

 People of Kazerun held a ceremony on Friday, March 25^th, remembering the protesters murdered by the Iranian regime’s security forces in the recent demonstrations. A large number of people took part while security and intelligence units were present at the scene, besieging the entire area and taking measures to prevent people from chanting slogans. Such security forces were stationed across the city.

Four protesters murdered by the Iranian regime’s forces during the Kazerun demonstrations are:

Mehdi (Hadi) Jahantab

Omid Yousefian

Ali Mohammadian Azad

Reza (Behnam) Azhdari

Jahantab’s body was literally unidentifiable as authorities had severely tortured this brave protesters. His family was kept in the dark for many days, saying the body cannot be identified, to prevent them from taking further measures.

His body was completely swollen when delivered to his family and friends. Many pellet rounds were also found in his body, making it obvious he was first shot and then severely tortured. He was badly injured and lost his life due to the severity of his wounds.

Azhdari was buried in his home village and authorities banned his family from informing the media.

Witnesses say Ali Mohammadian Azad was literally hunted down by the IRGC and killed during the night protests.

Authorities had gone the limits to not deliver the bodies of these murdered protesters to their families. The families’ protests and insistence, however, forced city officials to bring an end to this plot.

The burial ceremony for these four protesters was held on May 22 despite the fact that Iranian regime officials sought to force the families to bury their loved ones in four different places and at different timings in order to prevent a large gathering and an angry demonstration.

Two of the protesters were buried in the city’s “Seyed Mohammad” cemetery. Another protester was buried in the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.

Iranian regime authorities had also cut-off all internet connections and jammed satellite networks to prevent the distribution of any news about Kazerun and the ceremonies.

Security unit commanders had also recalled their uniformed units and dispatched plainclothes agents, yet another step to prevent people’s anger from erupting.