Tehran, Iran – Prince Reza Pahlavi called on the Iranian people to maintain unity and solidarity and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, in response to the arrest of a number of participants in the ceremonies commemorating the seventh anniversary of the death of Khosrow Ali Kordi in the city of Mashhad.
According to reports, Iranian security forces arrested several participants in the ceremonies held on Friday, December 11, at the Ghadir Mosque in Mashhad. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization released the names of at least 16 detainees, including: Narges Mohammadi, Alia Motbalzadeh, Hasti Amiri, Pouran Nazemi, Sepideh Gholian, Asadollah Fakimi, Akbar Amini, Ali Adinezadeh, Reza Adinezadeh, Hassan Bagherinia, Abolfazl Abri, Habib Fadaei, Kamal Jafarizdi, Noura Haghi, Davoud Alikardi, and Ahmad Alikardi.
Reports also indicate that Javad Alikardi, the brother of Khosrow Alikardi, was arrested minutes after the ceremony concluded, following the release of a warning video. Other sources suggest the number of detainees may be higher, with political activist and former prisoner Yashar Tabrizi writing on the X platform that “many people were beaten” and that “more than 50” were arrested. Sources close to the family of former political prisoner Mohammad Hossein Hosseini also confirmed his arrest while attending the ceremony, but his current condition remains unknown.
In a video message posted on the X platform, Prince Reza Pahlavi said: “I send my greetings to all my dear countrymen, especially the honorable people of Mashhad. I appreciate your courage and thank you for your invaluable support. Maintain your unity and solidarity, and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested during the memorial service for the late Khosrow Alikerdi. Victory is yours, and I hope to see you soon in our beloved homeland.” During the ceremony, slogans in support of Prince Reza Pahlavi were chanted.
US Reaction
The US State Department commented on the events, noting the participation of thousands in the memorial ceremonies in Mashhad. In a statement on social media, the State Department said, “Instead of providing an explanation for the suspicious death of this courageous lawyer, Tehran responded to the participants with violence and repression.” It added that the widespread arrests demonstrate that “nothing is sacred to the regime, not even mourning the death of a human being,” and stressed the need for the immediate release of all those “unjustly detained.”
Reactions
In the context of reactions, Marzieh Ainehzadeh, daughter of Ali Adenzadeh and sister of Abolfazl Adenzadeh, wrote on the “X” platform: “They killed the son, they also killed the lawyer in the son’s case, and now they have beaten and arrested the father who only went to attend the memorial service for their lawyer.”
