Amnesty International Exposes Destruction of Protesters' Graves
Amnesty International has revealed that the graves of protesters killed during last year’s protests have been vandalized and their families harassed.
Amnesty International has revealed that the graves of protesters killed during last year’s protests have been vandalized and their families harassed.
The human rights organization's latest research, published Monday, provides concrete evidence of the Iranian authorities' efforts to silence those seeking justice for their loved ones.
The report reveals that graves belonging to more than 20 victims from 17 cities have been vandalized. Graves have been damaged with tar or paint and in some cases set on fire, headstones have been shattered, and inscriptions describing victims as “martyrs” or stating that they died for the cause of freedom have been scraped away. The authorities have also tried to stop victims’ families from holding ceremonies at the graves of their loved ones.
There have not been any official investigations into these acts and in the report, Amnesty International demands immediate action.
"Amnesty International calls on all states to exercise universal jurisdiction and issue arrest warrants for Iranian officials, including those with command responsibility, who are reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility for crimes under international law committed during and in the aftermath of the uprising," urged Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Mahsa Amini's family has also faced repeated damage to her grave. The Iranian authorities have announced plans to alter Aichi cemetery in Saqqez, Kurdistan province, where she is buried, limiting public access.
The human rights organization emphasized the international community's responsibility towards protecting the rights of victims' families. These families are subject to arbitrary arrests, unjust prosecutions, coercive interrogations, and unlawful surveillance. The organization demands that the Iranian authorities respect their right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
