A shocking revelation has emerged from Iran, where families are facing an unimaginable dilemma. The authorities are holding the bodies of protesters as a bargaining chip, demanding exorbitant sums of money for their release. This cruel practice has left families devastated and desperate.
Multiple sources have confirmed to BBC Persian that mortuaries and hospitals are holding onto the bodies, refusing to release them without payment. The situation is dire, with at least 2,435 lives lost in the protests across Iran over the past two weeks. One family in Rasht shared their heart-wrenching story, revealing that security forces demanded a staggering 700 million tomans (equivalent to $5,000 or £3,700) to release their loved one's body. Imagine the anguish of having to negotiate for the return of a family member's remains.
But here's where it gets even more controversial. In Tehran, a Kurdish construction worker's family was told to pay a billion tomans ($7,000 or £5,200) for their son's body. With typical earnings of less than $100 a month, this fee is utterly unattainable for many. Some hospital staff, in a rare act of compassion, have warned families in advance, urging them to collect the bodies before security forces arrive to extort money.
One woman, whose identity we must protect, only learned of her husband's death when hospital staff called his phone on January 9. She rushed to the hospital, put her husband's body in the back of a pickup truck, and drove for seven hours with her children to bury him in their hometown in western Iran. Can you imagine the emotional turmoil she must have endured?
And this is the part most people miss. BBC Persian has received reports that officials at Tehran's Behesht-e Zahra mortuary are offering a 'deal' to families. If they claim their child was a member of the Basij paramilitary force and was killed by protesters, the body will be released for free. But at what cost? A family member shared their refusal to participate in this pro-government narrative, highlighting the ethical dilemma they faced.
In another shocking incident, families in Tehran took matters into their own hands. Fearing that the authorities would keep the bodies or bury them without consent, several families broke into a mortuary and retrieved the bodies themselves. They guarded them in the hospital courtyard for hours, determined to prevent their loved ones from being taken away. This act of defiance showcases the depth of their grief and determination.
The ongoing internet and communications blackout has made it challenging to grasp the full extent of these atrocities. International human rights groups and news organizations, including the BBC, are restricted from reporting on the ground by the Iranian government. Despite these obstacles, the world must bear witness to the suffering unfolding in Iran.
The protests began in Tehran on December 29, sparked by a sharp decline in the Iranian currency's value against the dollar. As the demonstrations spread to dozens of towns and cities, they evolved into a powerful movement against the country's clerical rulers. The authorities' response was brutal, with a significant escalation of violence last Thursday.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 2,435 protesters, 13 children, and 153 security force or government-affiliated individuals have lost their lives since the unrest began. Additionally, 18,470 protesters have been arrested. The situation is critical, and the world must not turn a blind eye.
What are your thoughts on this devastating situation? Do you think the international community should intervene? Share your opinions in the comments below.
