Iranian Authorities ‘Secretly Bury’ Exiled Journalist’s Body

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has reportedly informed the family of well-known journalist Reza Haghighatnejad that his body was secretly buried in southern Iran.

Haghighatnejad’s sister posted on her Instagram account a photograph of the purported burial site outside the city of Shiraz.

"One person...only one person should come and tell me where in history such cruelty has been inflicted to a sister,” she wrote.

According to RFE/RL, where Haghighatnejad worked from 2019 until his death, the photo was sent to the family by the IRGC. They were not allowed to see the body or participate in the burial.

Haghighatnejad died in Berlin on October 17 at the age of 45. His body was repatriated to Iran for burial on October 25, but was not turned over to his parents.

On October 27, the journalist's mother published a video in which she said her son's body had "been abducted by the authorities at the airport."

Haghighatnejad left Iran amid increased pressure on journalists and worked with Persian-language media outside the country.

The incident comes as Iranian authorities are cracking down on protests triggered by the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.