Sunday, September 24, 2023

Protests Crackdown: Iran arrests Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s niece

Iran has arrested Farideh Moradkhani, niece to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, known for opposing her uncle’s regime over several cases of human rights abuse.

• November 29, 2022
Ayatollah Khamenei and Farideh Moradkhani
Ayatollah Khamenei and Farideh Moradkhani

Iranian authorities have arrested Farideh Moradkhani, niece to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, known for opposing her uncle’s regime over several cases of human rights abuse.

Ms Moradkhani was detained on Wednesday by the regime’s security officials while delivering a court order. 

Her France-based brother later released a video of her pleading with other nations to boycott Iran over its bloody response to the protest that erupted after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in the country’s morality police custody in September.

In the video posted online two days after her arrest, Ms Moradkhani was seen charging other nations to completely cut ties with Iran as Iranians were angry with countries who supported the Khamenei-led regime.

“I ask the conscientious people of the world to stand by us and ask their governments not to react with empty words and slogans but with real action and stop any dealings with this regime,” Ms Moradkhani said in the video.

She added, “Oh, free people, be with us and tell your governments to stop supporting this murderous and child-killing regime. This regime is not loyal to any of its religious principles and does not know any laws or rules except force and maintaining its power in any possible way.”

Ms Moradkhani said the “people of Iran are carrying the burden of this heavy responsibility alone by paying with their lives” as Iranian authorities brutally quell protests across the country.

On Monday, Iranian general Amir Ali Hajizadeh admitted that at least 300 persons had been killed in the ongoing protests, including security operatives. 

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) placed the actual number of fatalities from the protests at 451, higher than the number Mr Hajizadeh gave.

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