Security forces arrested Zahra Saeedianju on the eve of the anniversary of her brother’s murder during the 2022 Iran protests.
Zahra Saeedianju is seeking justice for her brother. Only three days before his anniversary, she was arrested again on Monday night, November 13, 2023, during a raid by security forces on her residence in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.
Her brother, Milad Saeedianju, 26, was shot and killed by the regime’s security forces on November 16, 2022, during protests in Izeh.
In October, Zahra Saeedianju was fired from her job. Several motorcyclists also threatened to kill her. On October 22, 2023, she wrote on her Instagram account: “I do not have any physical or mental problem. I have never had any special illness, and I do not plan to commit suicide.”
Her post referred to the Iranian authorities’ claims about the death of protesters killed by security forces.
Zahra Saeedianju had also been arrested on July 9 and imprisoned in Evin Prison. She was subsequently transferred to the Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, and released on bail on August 9, 2023.
Since September, intelligence services have brought tremendous pressure on the families of slain protesters to prevent them from holding ceremonies for their loved ones.
Ms. Fahimeh Moradi, the mother of Yalda Aghafazli, wrote on her Instagram account on November 13 that the tombstone of her daughter had been damaged. Yalda’s father, Mehrdad Aghafazli, had reported the same several months ago by unknown individuals and that he had replaced the tombstone. Mr. Aghafazli was forced by the intelligence services to call off the memorial ceremony for his daughter. The Revolutionary Court of Gorgan also fined Armin Rostami, the brother of Dr. Ayda Rostami, to pay 15 million Tomans if he did not want to serve eight months in prison.