Mothers of the victims executed or killed by the clerical regime in Iran, and particularly the mothers and siblings of the victims of the November 2019 uprising, made remarks during the Persian New Year days seeking justice for their children. They want the murderers of their children and loved ones to be prosecuted and punished.
The mothers of the victims of the November 2019 uprising and others fallen for Iran’s freedom, have followed suit with families of the victims of the 1988 massacre, emphasizing on the motto: “We will never forgive nor forget.”
Mothers of the victims of the November 2019 uprising
Following are examples of the remarks and declarations made by mothers of the victims of the November 2019 uprising, some of which were recorded by their graves and posted on social media:
Mother of Pejman Qolipour, one of the victims of the slaughter of protesters in November 2019, addressed the people of Iran and said: “I hope the coming year would be filled with calm, without oppression, without bloodshed, without aggression.”
“We follow the path of our children. I have cried out everywhere, I am the mother of Pejman Qolipour, and the only thing that will soothe my soul is justice for the person who targeted my son’s heart.”
The grieving mother of Mehdi Nekouii visited the grave of her son at the turn of the year and prayed for an end to the regime’s rule. His sister said: “I am the sister of Mehdi Nekouii. My family and I will never forgive… We will be consoled only when the person who fired at the heart of our loved one receives justice.”
Mother Mehrdad Mo’einfar in a message said: “Justice is the only hope that keeps us alive. We live in the hope of the overthrow of the murderers of our children.”
Mother of Reza Mo’azzami extended her congratulations for the New Year and said: “We are here to seek justice for our children. I will not relent so long as the murderer of Reza is alive.”
The family of Vahid Damvar declared: “We will not have mercy on the murderer of our children. They ruined our Eid. Khamenei, may God ruin yours!”
The sister of Kamal Faraji also had a message while visiting the grave of her beloved brother: “Every New Year, people go their brother’s house to visit and congratulate the New Year. Now, we have come to his grave. I hope 1400 will be the year of annihilation of the regime.”
The brother of Dr. Borhan Mansour-Nia who was killed in the November 2019 uprising said: “Our main demand is justice (for the victim).”
The wife of Ali Fotouhi Kouhsareh said: “Our loved ones were deliberately shot by bullets in November 2019. And today, we are impatiently waiting for the day when justice is done!”
The wife of Aziz Eskandari said: “I am the mother of the two children of Aziz who got killed in November 2019. I say: I will not forgive, nor forget!”
The sister of Mohsen Jafarpanah said: “These are New Year days. The person who targeted the head or chest of our children and was awarded for doing so, is now with his family. But 1,500 families have been shattered. The demand and natural right of the families (of the victims) of November 2019 is to choose and witness the punishment of the murderers.”
The family of Amir Hossein Kabiri said: “We will not rest until the day the blood of Amir Hossein is revenged.”
The family of Ebrahim Ketabdar said: “Our sole and only which is justice and the annihilation of the murderers. I daringly say that this is the wish of 1,500 bereaved mothers.”
Mother of Alireza Anjovi said: “Alireza was all my life and I seek his murderer to face justice.”
Mothers of other victims
Mother of Behnoud Ramezani said: “It has been 10 years since they made us mournful. They sought to solidify their positions, but they were wrong. The blood of our country’s young people will not allow them to reach their dreams.”
Behnoud Ramezani, student of Mechanical Engineering at Noshirvani Industrial University of Babol, was beaten to death by Bassij forces in Tehran during the 2010 Feast of Fire.
Behiyeh Namjou, mother of Navid Afkari, posted photos of herself by side of Navid’s grave on March 20, at the turn of the Persian New Year. Her surviving son, Saeed Afkari, posted a message on behalf of his mother: “My mother demands prosecution and punishment of each and every one involved in the murder of Navid, from high-ranking officials of the regime, to the torturers, the prosecutors, those who issued the death decree, those who justified the decree and those who carried out the murder… Navid wants us to defend the oppressed. We want the prosecution and maximum punishment (of the perpetrators).”
Two other sons of Mrs. Namjou, Habib and Vahid Afkari, are still detained in solitary confinement.
Mansoureh Behkish who has lost her five brothers and one sister in the executions of the 1980s and the 1988 massacre, sympathized with the mother of Navid Afkari, by saying: “Behiyeh Namjou, your pain is mine, your wound is mine. And I will remain by your side until we achieve justice from these oppressors!”
Behnaz Mahjoubi, sister of Behnam Mahjoubi, declared in a tweet: “I vow to continue to seek justice until my last breath for you, your lost youth days and all our buried dreams.”
Behnam Mahjoubi, 33 and a Gonabadi Dervish, died on February 16, 2021 due to denial of medical care and medicinal poisoning.
He was arrested in winter 2018 during the protest by Gonabadi dervishes in Tehran. In August 2019, he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. In June 2020, he was taken to Evin Prison to serve his prison term despite the forensics office’s confirmation that he could not endure prison conditions due to nervous illness.
Mrs. Gohar Eshghi, mother of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who was killed under torture in 2012, also said in a message: “So long as this regime is in power, there will be no salvation for our people.” She called the Persian New Year 1400 as the year of “struggle against oppression” and the year of regime’s “overthrow.”
Those martyred for Iran’s freedom will remain forever in the hearts and minds of the people of Iran and all the people of Iran seek justice for them.
We will never forgive nor forget.
