Iran Feature: Lost Files --- Families of 55 Post-Election Victims Still Seek Justice (Alinejad)

Amir Javadifar, killed in Kahrizak Prison, July 2009Masih Alinejad writes this article for BBC Persian, with an English translation on CNN's iReport:

On the eve of the third anniversary of the 2009 [Presidential] elections, families of the victims of post-election protests, who have filed claims against authorities demanding accountability and are disappointed at the futility of their struggle, speak to us of their plight.

During the demonstrations that broke out in the aftermath of June 2009 presidential elections in Iran, many protesters lost their lives as they were shot point-blank, severely beaten, as they inhaled tear gas, pushed off bridges or buildings, or run over by security forces’ trucks. Many others were arrested and killed in detention as a result of fatal beatings and lack of medical attention, according to their families and even official records released by the judiciary and armed forces. The coroner’s reports released to the victims’ families confirm the victims’ deaths by firearms.

To date 55 families have reported the death of a close relative during the post-election riots, in various media interviews. 

Masoumeh Chegini, wife of Mahram Chegini, one of the protesters shot to death in June 2009 demonstrations, said in an exclusive interview that despite the coroner’s reports confirming the fatal gun shot and even officially declaring him a martyr, the authorities never identified my husband’s assailant: “We have no hopes for my husband’s case moving any further, as we have been ordered to accept the 'Dieyeh', the blood money compensation; which implies the closure of the case."

Mrs. Chegini adds, “They essentially erase the bitter memory of my husband’s death as the officials hold no value for our loved ones’ lives and assume that by paying us the chapter is closed. In fact, for us the case will never close until we find out who were these parties who could freely roam the streets and randomly shoot and kill the children of this country, and by extension destroy our lives. Where are they hiding now?" 

Graphic videos of killing of the protesters were broadcast on YouTube in June 2009, notably the scene of Neda Agha Soltan’s death by gunfire. They rapidly spread across the Internet and made Neda a well-known name in international media outlets. There were similar videos in circulation around the same time, showing Basij members shooting into the crowd from atop their stations.

Ali Hasan-Pour was the father of two young children. He was shot in the head during the protests on 15 June 2009, and his corpse was delivered to his family after 105 days.

Ladan Mostafaie, Hasanpour's wife, said in an interview that she had filed a claim against the members of one such Basij station, which resulted in a transfer of her case to the military court syste:  “Eight Basij members who were on duty that day at the said station were summoned to court and their information were collected: however, none of them have thus far been identified as a ‘killer’.” 

She adds, "In the past three years I have visited the military court house over two hundred times and five judges who have reviewed the case, have unanimously vouched for my husband’s innocence.” 

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The 55 Victims

Amir Javadifar – Mohammad Kamrani – Mohsen Rouholamini – Ramin Aghazadeh Ghahremani – Ramin Pourandarjani – Ahmad Nejati Kargar – Maysam Ebadi – Ali Hasanpour – Sohrab A’raabi – Ahmad Haiemabadi – Mahram Chegini – Ramin Ramezani – Davood Sadri – Soroor Boroumand – Fatemeh Rajabpour – Hesaam Hanifeh – Hossein Akhtarzand – Kianoush Assa – Mahmoud Raeesi Najafi – Mostafa Ghanian – Lotfali Yousefian – Amir Hossein Toofanpour – Bahman Jenaie – Alireza Eftekhari – Saeed Abbasi – Seyed Elyas Mirjafari – Naser Amirnejad – Ashkan Sohrabi – Neda Agha Soltan – Masoud Khosravi Doostmohammd – Kaveh Sabzalipour – Massoud Hasheminajad – Abbas Disnad – Yaghoub Beravayeh – Ali Fathalian – Behzad Mohajer – Mohammad Javad Parnadakh – Mostafa Kiarostami – Fatemeh Semsarpour – Hamid Hossein Baig Araghi – Mohammd Hossein Fayz – Hossein Gholam Kabiti – Amir Yousefzadeh – Seydali Mousavi – Mostafa Karimbaigi – Shabnam Sohrabi – Shahram Farajzadeh - Mehdi Farhadirad – Amir Arshad Tajmir – Shahrokh Rahmani – Mohammad Ali Rasekhinia – Saneh Zhaleh – Mohammad Mokhtari – Behnood Ramezani