Iran Authorities Demanding Large Sums for Return of Protesters’ Bodies
Rights groups estimate that over 2,400 individuals have lost their lives as a result of the Iranian authorities’ violent crackdown on recent protests. Families of the deceased are facing exorbitant demands from the government to reclaim their loved ones’ bodies for burial.
Disturbing Reports from Families
– Families have reported that bodies are being held in various mortuaries and hospitals, with security forces refusing to release them unless significant sums are paid.
– Specific cases include:
– A family in Rasht was asked to pay 700 million tomans (approximately $5,000 or £3,700) for the release of their loved one’s body, which was stored alongside at least 70 other deceased protesters at Poursina Hospital.
– In Tehran, another family sought the body of a Kurdish seasonal construction worker, only to be told the fee was one billion tomans (about $7,000 or £5,200). Given that many construction workers in Iran earn less than $100 a month, this fee is prohibitively high.
Grim Circumstances Surrounding Body Retrieval
– Hospital staff have occasionally contacted relatives, warning them to collect bodies quickly before security forces could impose additional charges.
– An unidentified woman learned of her husband’s death through a phone call from hospital staff on January 9. They urged her to come to retrieve his body swiftly. In a heart-wrenching journey, she transported her husband’s body home for burial, riding for seven hours while mourning in the back of a pickup truck with her children seated in the front.
Coercive Tactics by Authorities
– At Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra mortuary, families have been pressured to falsely claim that their deceased had been Basij paramilitary members killed by protesters, promising that the authorities would release the body without charge in exchange for their compliance. One family member reported, We were asked to participate in a pro-government rally and portray the body as that of a martyr. We did not agree to this.
Desperate Measures Taken by Families
– In a dramatic turn of events, some families resorted to breaking into a mortuary to reclaim bodies out of fear that they would be taken away by the authorities. Reports indicate that several families pulled bodies out of ambulances and guarded them in hospital courtyards until they could arrange private transport.
Challenges in Gathering Accurate Information
The ongoing communications blackout has severely hampered efforts to fully understand the circumstances on the ground. Both international human rights organizations and news outlets, including the BBC, face restrictions imposed by the Iranian government.
Background on the Protests
Protesting began in Tehran on December 29, following a sharp decline in the Iranian currency against the dollar. Demonstrations rapidly spread to numerous towns and cities, escalating into widespread unrest against the clerical regime. The response from the authorities has been marked by increased violence.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), as many as 2,435 protesters have been killed, alongside 13 children and 153 individuals associated with security forces or the government. The agency also reports that approximately 18,470 protesters have been arrested, with widespread detentions targeting activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens.
Conclusion
The situation in Iran remains dire, as families grapple with the unimaginable burden of not only losing loved ones but also facing financial demands from authorities for their return. The high toll of protests underscores the urgent need for attention and action from the international community to support those affected and advocate for justice in Iran.