The family of Kian Pirfalak, a 9-year-old boy killed in last year's protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody, commemorated the first anniversary of his death a week earlier than planned after coming under intense pressure from security forces.
The slain child's father, Meysam Pirfalak, revealed the event through an Instagram post on November 9 featuring videos of mourners at Kian's graveside, including Kian's mother, Mahmonir Molaei Rad, who has become a vocal advocate for justice since her son's death in the southwestern Iranian city of Izeh.
Fateme Heydari, the sister of Javad Heydari, another protester killed, reported on social media that the memorial was conducted "seven days early under the most intense security pressures." Concurrently, the "atmosphere in the city of Izeh" was said by residents to be extremely tense.
She also confirmed reports of threats against the family of Milad Saeidianjoo, another victim of the crackdown by government forces on protesters in Izeh, as they returned from Kian's memorial service. Security forces reportedly attacked Saeidianjoo's mother and sisters with weapons, detaining two of their companions and impounding their vehicle.
Fateme Heydari said this is the third instance of severe violence and threats against Saeidianjoo's family.
Kian Pirfalak became a symbol of Iran's brutal crackdown on protesters when he was killed last year in Izeh when government forces opened fire on the evening of November 16, 2022. Kian's father was severely injured in the violence and hospitalized for two months, unaware of his son's death for weeks.
Government officials labeled the Izeh massacre as a "terrorist" act and attributed it to government opponents. However, Pirfalak's mother refuted the claims at her son's funeral, stating government forces had fired a barrage of bullets at their family car.