Iran steps up pressure on slain protesters’ families in post-war crackdown

Iranian authorities have arrested at least eight relatives of protesters killed during the 2022 uprising in recent weeks, amid a broader crackdown on dissent in the aftermath of the country’s war with Israel last month.

The most recent case involves Mahsa Shafiee, the 24-year-old sister of slain protester Parsa Shafiee, who was arrested by intelligence agents at her home in Yasuj, southwestern Iran, on Thursday, according to a source who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals.

Eighteen-year-old Parsa was killed in November 2022, during the nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Zhina Amini over an alleged hijab law violation in September that year, which triggered the nationwide uprising known as the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement.

In addition to Shafiee's detention, her father was also summoned by the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence on the same day, according to former political prisoner and rights activist Foad Choobin.

“The Shafiee family is currently under severe pressure from security institutions and has been threatened not to share information about Mahsa’s situation,” he wrote on X Sunday, adding that Mahsa’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

Last Monday, Ehsan Khazaei, the brother of slain protester Erfan Khazaei, and his wife Neda Karegar were arrested in Tehran. According to Norway-based rights group Hengaw, more than 60 security agents stormed their residence, beat family members, and confiscated mobile phones. US-based rights group HRANA reported that the couple was later released on bail.

On June 23, Suleiman Qader Galwan, the brother of slain protester Abdulsalam Qader Galwan, was arrested in Oshnavieh, a city in West Azarbaijan province, following a raid by intelligence agents.

Ali Mohammadi, the father of slain protestor Shahriyar Mohammadi, was arrested on June 21 in Bukan, also in West Azarbaijan province, his daughter Asrin told Iran International.

Asrin said that her father was beaten during interrogation and lost consciousness, after which he was briefly hospitalized. Asrin added that her father is being denied independent legal representation.

On June 19, security forces also arrested Majid Naderkhani, whose son Matin was detained during the 2022 protests and shot dead months after release from prison.

In Yasuj, Feyzollah Azarnosh, the father of 18-year-old slain protester Pedram Azarnoosh, was arrested on June 18 and transferred to Yasuj Central Prison following questioning, according to a report by Hengaw.

That same day in Bukan, Karim Qaderpour, the father of protest victim Awat Qaderpour, was detained and taken to an undisclosed location.

Earlier this month, United Nations experts urged Iranian authorities to end a post-ceasefire crackdown marked by executions, mass arrests, and hate speech, warning that the country risks repeating past cycles of repression.

Last month, HRANA reported that 823 Iranian citizens were on political or security-related charges since the outbreak of the war.

According to the report, 286 people were detained for their online activities, including sharing content about Israel’s attack on Iran.