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Sohrab Arabi's Mother: 'If They Release All Prisoners, I'll Forgive My Son's Murderers'


Sohrab Arabi and his mother, Parvin Fahimi, campaigning for Mir Hossein Musavi shortly before Arabi disappeared. He was later found shot dead.
Sohrab Arabi and his mother, Parvin Fahimi, campaigning for Mir Hossein Musavi shortly before Arabi disappeared. He was later found shot dead.
The mother of Sohrab Arabi, a young man killed in the postelection crackdown, has said that if authorities release all political prisoners she will forgive those responsible for her son's death.

Parvin Fahimi made the comments in an interview with Radio Farda's Elahe Ravanshad in which she also said she doesn't think authorities will pay any attention to her offer because "they don't consider us [important]."

Arabi went missing during a peaceful June 15 protest over the reelection of Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Fahimi was not informed of her son's death until almost one month later.

Fahimi said the authorities have not been diligent in pursuing those who killed her son and other protesters last year.

Both Arabi and Fahimi supported presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi in last year's vote. Here is a video taken in Tehran in the days before last June's vote in which Arabi and his mother can be seen. Arabi is wearing a green scarf and green bandanna:



In October, Fahimi told me she believes her son did not die in vain. He died for his ideas, she said, and will always remain alive.

Arabi has become one of the icons of the Green Movement and his mother is considered a hero by refusing to remain silent.

She says she will hold a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of Arabi's death, saying, "It's my right."

The U.S.-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran says it has learned that in the last few weeks families of some of those who were killed in the postelection crackdown have been told not to conduct any public ceremonies for their dead loved ones as the first anniversary approaches.

-- Golnaz Esfandiari

About This Blog

Persian Letters is a blog that offers a window into Iranian politics and society. Written primarily by Golnaz Esfandiari, Persian Letters brings you under-reported stories, insight and analysis, as well as guest Iranian bloggers -- from clerics, anarchists, feminists, Basij members, to bus drivers.

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