Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has told the family of Radio Free Europe (RSE) journalist Reza Haghighatnejad that his body has been secretly buried at a location outside his hometown of Shiraz, writes RSE.
On October 30, Radio Farda published on Twitter a photo of an alleged grave that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent to the journalist's father.
Haghighatnejad, 45, died of cancer in Berlin on October 17. His body was returned to Iran for burial on October 25.
The body, however, was not handed over to his parents after it arrived in Iran, and there were unconfirmed reports that it was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and taken to an unknown location.
On October 27, journalist Begumyan Raeisi's mother posted a video in which she says her son's body was "kidnapped by the authorities at the airport."
The family was not allowed to see the body, nor to participate in the funeral.
On October 28, US State Department spokesman Ned Price called on the Iranian authorities to "immediately" hand over the body of Haghighatnejad to his family and said that this case shows the extent of the intimidation of journalists.
"The treatment of Reza Haghighatnejad highlights how much the Iranian leadership fears journalists even after death," he said.
RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Flynn called the Iranian regime's behavior toward the Haghighatnejad family "shameful and disgusting."
Haghighatnejad left Iran amid increased pressure on journalists and began reporting in Persian outside the country. He started reporting for Radio Farda in 2019.
Due to his journalistic activities, he could not return to Iran.
The incident comes as Iran cracks down on protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Morality Police.
She was arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict women's dress code.
On October 300, more than 30 Iranian journalists published an open letter calling for the release of two female colleagues who were detained for reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini in custody.
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