At Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran, families gather to mourn loved ones killed during the January 2023 protests, six months after the bloody crackdown. Among them is the father of Sepehr, a 25-year-old shot dead in Kahrizak. His father's viral video cry, "Sepehr-e Baba, where are you?" is now engraved on his gravestone. The father, unafraid of arrest, tells the crowd: "I'm waiting for these people to fall. Don't doubt it – they're already gone."
Mohammadreza's Mother Curses Khamenei
At another grave, Mohammadreza's elderly mother, wearing a pale blue headscarf, says: "I cursed Khamenei. I was very happy when they killed him. But my heart aches for these children." Her daughter adds that Mohammadreza, 38, saved lives the night he was killed in Tehransar. She plans to write "javidnam" on his stone but fears police retaliation, as some gravestones have been broken.
Sara's Grave Left Untended
Nearby, Sara's grave, marked with a white stone and the word "darya" (sea) for eternity, sits empty. The 45-year-old was attacked by plainclothes security forces with machetes, captured on viral CCTV. A woman mourning her cousin says: "I wish they had seen Khamenei's death. Let those bastards go to hell."
Mohammad Killed While Defending Girls
Mohammad, 28, a boxer, was killed by Basij paramilitary in Ariya Shahr. His brother recounts: "They had grabbed two girls. He went to save them, and those bastards hit him. Four or five Basijis surrounded them. They beat him, then shot him three times."
Ali's Family Struggles Without a Gravestone
Ali, shot dead in Moshiriyeh, still has no gravestone due to his family's financial hardship. His father, a thin man with missing teeth, says: "My son was a footballer, 2 meters tall, a goalkeeper. We identified him in Kahrizak." His mother remains silent, offering only a soft smile.
Danyal's Father Recalls Horrors at Morgue
Danyal's father, sitting by his son's grave, says: "These people have no mercy. They killed my son." He describes searching through body bags in overcrowded mortuaries, where a girl's body was left naked. Security forces pressured him to declare Danyal a "martyr of a terrorist attack," which he reluctantly accepted for his other son's safety.
