Nationwide uprising in Iran – Statement 121

NCRI - On the 44th day of nationwide uprising, Tehran residents walked in groups of 4-5 people from Vanak Square and Tehran’s International Exhibition Center toward the regime’s Radio and Television center to take part in Mohsen Rouh al-Amini’s memorial service held in nearby Balal Mosque today.

Mr. Rouh al-Amini was arrested in a demonstration on July 9, where over a million Tehran residents participated. He was taken to Kahrizak prison, west of Tehran, along hundreds of others. He died of severe torture. His corpse was handed over to his family two weeks after his death. Signs of torture were clearly visible on his body. The regime’s officials forced his family to sign a declaration stating that they would not complain against anyone and they would only be allowed to hold a funeral service if promised not to chant slogans. 

The Revolutionary Guards blocked all routes leading to the Mosque and tried to prevent people from going to the ceremony. A massive number of suppressive forces were stationed in Vanak Square and outside Khajeh Nasir University. Agents of the notorious Ministry of Intelligence were sent into the crowd to identify activists.

At 18:30 local time the suppressive forces attacked the crowd of 1,500 gathered around the Mosque and tried to disperse them by firing tear gas but the courageous youths resisted while chanting “Death to dictator.”

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 26, 2009