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.

Iranian MPs under fire for ‘humiliating’ selfies with the EU’s Mogherini

European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attends swearing-in ceremony for Iranian president Hassan Rouhani

By Staff Writer

Al Arbiya, 7 August 2017 - After what seemed to be a “struck by stardom” moment, members of the Iranian parliament are being criticized for their “unusual” behavior with the EU’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, the BBC reported on Sunday.

Mogherini was bombarded with MP members who asked to take selfies with her. The diplomat was in Iran for President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration on Saturday.

European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attends swearing-in ceremony for Iranian president Hassan Rouhani at parliament in Tehran, Iran, August 5, 2017.

Social media users took to Twitter to reflect their position on the incident. Many referred to the scene as “humiliating” and “embarrassing.” Others posted images comparing the act to movie scenes.

BBC quoted MP Alireza Salimi saying the behavior was a “self-surrender to the West.”

The news agency also cited Salimi saying that if other MP’s see the selfie occurrence as a “contempt for parliament, “a committee on the conduct of members may probe the incident.”

Speaking on the matter, Ahmad Mazani, one of the MP’s seen in the controversial pictures noted in a tweet that the crowd is a result of lawmakers being banned 'from interacting with special guests' during the ceremony, the BBC added.

Rouhani’s cultural adviser Hesam Ashena said that the episode is a matter of “cultural rather than a political problem.” Similarly, adviser to former President expressed that perhaps Iranian MPs should take part in “a training course on codes of conduct and universal moral values.”

Mogherini has not issued a statement regarding the matter.

Iranian MPs under fire for ‘humiliating’ selfies with the EU’s Mogherini

European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attends swearing-in ceremony for Iranian president Hassan Rouhani

By Staff Writer

Al Arbiya, 7 August 2017 - After what seemed to be a “struck by stardom” moment, members of the Iranian parliament are being criticized for their “unusual” behavior with the EU’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, the BBC reported on Sunday.

Mogherini was bombarded with MP members who asked to take selfies with her. The diplomat was in Iran for President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration on Saturday

European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attends swearing-in ceremony for Iranian president Hassan Rouhani at parliament in Tehran, Iran, August 5, 2017.

Social media users took to Twitter to reflect their position on the incident. Many referred to the scene as “humiliating” and “embarrassing.” Others posted images comparing the act to movie scenes

BBC quoted MP Alireza Salimi saying the behavior was a “self-surrender to the West.”

The news agency also cited Salimi saying that if other MP’s see the selfie occurrence as a “contempt for parliament, “a committee on the conduct of members may probe the incident.”

Speaking on the matter, Ahmad Mazani, one of the MP’s seen in the controversial pictures noted in a tweet that the crowd is a result of lawmakers being banned 'from interacting with special guests' during the ceremony, the BBC added.

Rouhani’s cultural adviser Hesam Ashena said that the episode is a matter of “cultural rather than a political problem.” Similarly, adviser to former President expressed that perhaps Iranian MPs should take part in “a training course on codes of conduct and universal moral values.”

Mogherini has not issued a statement regarding the matter.