Authorities Charge Fees for Return of Protesters’ Bodies

Families of over 2,400 individuals killed during Iran’s ongoing protests report that authorities are demanding large sums for the return of their bodies. In instances from Rasht and Tehran, families were asked to pay between 700 million tomans ($5,000) and 1 billion tomans ($7,000) to retrieve loved ones, which many cannot afford. Some families resorted to breaking into mortuaries to collect bodies, fearing they would be taken by security forces. Protests began on December 29, fueled by economic grievances, leading to a violent crackdown by authorities.

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