Iran steps up pressure on families of post-election victims

Zahra Nikpeyma

Families of the victims of the post-election political turmoil in Iran are experiencing a new wave of pressures from Islamic Republic authorities.

The Support Centre for the Families of Victims and Detainees reports that the Prosecutor’s office has issued a summons for Zahra Nikpeyma, mother of post-election victim, Ashkan Sohrabi.

Ashkan Sohrabi, an IT student at the University of Qazvin, was shot to death on Saturday June 20, 2009 in the course of the post-election protests.

The website for the Families of Victims and Detainees goes on to report that last week, Mehdi Ramazani, father of Ramin Ramazani, was arrested in a commemoration ceremony held for another post-election victim, Amir Arshad Tajmir.

Ramin Ramazani was shot to death during the mass demonstrations of June 15, 2009 challenging the legitimacy of Ahamdinejad’s victory in the elections.

Amir Arshad Tajmir was reportedly run over by security forces vehicles at the Ashura Day protests of last December.

The website adds that a number of families attending the Tajmir commemoration ceremony were arrested and while some were released later, Hakimeh Shokri, Neda Mostaghimi and Mehdi Ramazani are still in custody at Evin Prison and there is no news of their situation.

Yesterday, Iranian security forces prevented families from commemorating last year’s Ashura Day victims at Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery.

Last December, protesters against the alleged election fraud in the presidential elections of 2009 took to the streets on Ashura Day and faced severe violence from security forces. Images of security vehicles running people over and pushing them of bridges were soon posted on the web revealing Iranian authorities were determined to stop the protests by force.

Family of Mohammad Nourizad, detained journalist and filmmaker who is on a dry hunger strike, were arrested yesterday in front of Evin Prison and released a short while after. Fakhrosadat Mohtashamipour, the wife of another political detainee, Mostafa Tajzadeh was also temporarily arrested with the Nourizad family.

The family was harshly treated by the prison authorities, and Nourizad’s wife, Fatemeh Maleki was transferred to the hospital upon her release.