Teen protester Nika Shakarami's body stolen, sources say

The family had planned to bury Nika Shakarami on Monday, but her body was snatched and buried in a village about 40km (25 miles) away, the sources said.

Nika went missing for 10 days after protesting in Tehran on 20 September.

In her last message to a friend she said she was being chased by security forces, her aunt told BBC Persian.

Nika's family finally found her body in a morgue at a detention centre in the capital.

"When we went to identify her, they didn't allow us to see her body, only her face for a few seconds," said Atash Shakarami, Nika's aunt.

Nika's family transferred her body to her father's hometown of Khorramabad in the west of the country on Sunday - on what would have been her 17th birthday.

Under duress the family agreed not to hold a funeral but security forces "stole" Nika's body from Khorramabad and buried it in the village of Veysian, one source said.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Khorramabad cemetery and chanted slogans against the government, including "death to the dictator" - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Atash, who posted about Nika on her social media accounts, was arrested on Sunday when security forces raided her house, a source said.

The security forces threatened to kill Atash if anyone in the family took part in protests, the source added.

The authorities have a history of using the bodies of protesters as bargaining chips to silence the families of victims.

Hadis Najafi, a 22 year-old protester shot dead by security forces in Karaj near Tehran on 21 September, is one example.

Hadis' sisters say she was shot in the head and neck with live ammunition and also birdshot fired from a shotgun. Two pictures of her body show birdshot wounds.

"They wouldn't return the body for two days, asking her father to say she had died of a heart attack out of fear," two sources close to the family told BBC Persian.

Comments

1 Saudi Move & Impact On West Asian Geopolitics

As one of the most influential players in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's actions have far-reaching consequences for West Asian geopolitics. In recent years, we've seen several moves from this powerful nation that are shaking up traditional power dynamics and creating new alliances. From its diplomatic spat with Qatar to its growing relationship with Israel, Saudi Arabia is making bold moves that could change the face of West Asia as we know it. Join us as we dive into the geopolitical implications of Saudi Arabia's latest actions and explore what they mean for the future of this critical region. Saudi Arabia has long been a dominant force in the Middle East, wielding its oil wealth and religious influence to shape regional politics. Its alliance with the United States has given it even greater sway on the global stage, making it a key player in shaping West Asian geopolitics. However, Saudi Arabia's role in the region is not without controversy. Its support for conse...

Israeli settlers have once again attacked religious minorities in the region, this time targeting a church in East Jerusalem.

According to reports, the settlers assaulted clerics and worshippers at the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Charbel, causing damage to the property and injuring several people. This kind of behavior is not only unacceptable but also undermines efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. Attacks on religious minorities are a direct attack on religious freedom and must be condemned by all. The Israeli authorities must take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and hold them accountable for their actions. It is also important to ensure the safety and protection of religious minorities and their places of worship, as guaranteed by international law. this incident is a sad reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region and the need for a comprehensive and just solution. It is up to all of us to work together to promote understanding, tolerance, and respect for different beliefs and cultures, and to build a brighter and more peaceful future for all.

Fights break out as Kurds protest the French government's denial of a terrorist attack

Following the murder of three Kurds in what is being considered to be a probable racist incident , there have been widespread protests in Paris. The fact that the authorities did not view the attack at a Kurdish centre as a terrorist act has enraged the Kurdish diaspora in Paris. A 69-year-old man opened fire on a crowd of individuals early on Friday morning at the Ahmet-Kaya centre on Rue d'Enghien in the 10th arrondissement. One of the three victims is badly injured. All of the dead were Kurdish community members who passed away both inside and outside the cultural centre. Agit Polat, a spokesman for the Kurdish centre, charged that French officials "yet again failed to safeguard us... This is a terrorist attack in our eyes, according to the AFP news agency. In the afternoon, a number of protestors, largely from the Kurdish diaspora, got into a fight with the police outside the centre and in the streets close by, throwing rocks and torching trash cans. Police use...

Newsaholic

Search This Blog