Statement from Reza Haghighatnejad’s family to the people: We are not even informed which organization or institution has custody of Reza’s body.
People of Iran, it has been four days since our family of Reza Haghighatnejad has been trying to retrieve his body from the security forces, but not only do we still have nothing, we are not even informed which institution we should approach. Our human and rightful desire was and is to bury his body in his hometown of Dezhkord after all these years of forced separation, so that at least now, when seeing him is no longer possible, we can find closure by visiting his grave.
Despite prior coordination with the representatives of the Islamic Republic’s government and the official permission to transfer Reza’s body to Iran for burial in his hometown on the 5th of Aban, security forces seized his body from us at Shiraz airport on the 4th of Aban and took it to an unknown location.
From that shocking moment until today, aside from the pressures and threats, we have approached every institution and agency that came to mind for help, but not only has no authority given us any response, we are not even informed which organization or institution has custody of Reza’s body and what the outcome of this torturous uncertainty will be.
We also feel obliged to express our gratitude to the countless people who loved Reza across Iran and the world, who knew him as a courageous journalist, a lover of Iran, and a wishful thinker for the joy and freedom of the people, and who have stood united and in solidarity with us during these difficult days. We hope that his body, a part of us, will be returned to us as soon as possible, and that we can share this news with you, the people, as well. Saturday, the 7th of Aban, 1401.