Family of Slain Iranian Student Faces Agony Amid Protests

The family of Robina Aminian, a college student killed during protests in Iran, has endured a harrowing ordeal marked by grief and desperation. Aminian was reportedly shot by Iranian security forces on January 8, 2024, with her family believing she was struck in the back of the head. Following her death, her mother, Amina Norei, faced the traumatic task of searching through a morgue filled with bloodied bodies to find her daughter.

The tragic incident occurred amid nationwide demonstrations against the Iranian regime, which has escalated its crackdown on dissent. In the wake of the shooting, Aminian’s family feared that authorities would demand payment for the return of her body, leading to a frantic burial in an unmarked grave. Their experience reflects the broader suffering of families across Iran, who are grappling with the loss of loved ones while facing immense obstacles in mourning and burial.

Details surrounding Aminian’s death remain sparse, primarily sourced from her mother’s account relayed to relatives in Oslo. Friends present during the incident informed Norei that they were returning from a protest when security forces opened fire. Although the Associated Press has been unable to verify the precise circumstances due to limited communications in Iran, reports from the Iran Human Rights organization corroborate witness testimony about the violence on that night.

As the protests intensified, the Iranian government has not disclosed official casualty figures, but reports from the Human Rights Activists News Agency indicate that at least 3,090 people have been killed. This ongoing violence has led to a surge in desperate searches for missing loved ones by families throughout the country.

Norei, who was in Kermanshah, nearly 460 kilometers from Tehran, rushed to the capital upon hearing the news of her daughter’s death. During her agonizing search at the morgue, she recounted unzipping multiple body bags, desperately hoping to find Aminian. “She looked through so many beautiful faces, trying to find her girl,” said Hali Norei, Aminian’s aunt.

Many families, like Aminian’s, are facing similar horrors as they navigate overflowing morgues. According to Amnesty International, bodies have accumulated in unsuitable conditions, complicating the grief process for countless families. Reports of authorities demanding money for the release of bodies add another layer of trauma to these families’ suffering.

When Norei finally identified her daughter’s body, she was joined by her husband and children. In a rush to evade authorities, they quickly took Aminian’s body and drove out of the city. “She actually stole the body,” said Nezar Minoei, Aminian’s uncle.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran has documented numerous cases where families have been coerced into paying for their loved ones’ remains. Some have even reported being forced to sign documents falsely claiming that the deceased were members of security forces to reclaim their bodies.

In a statement addressing these issues, Iranian state television claimed that mortuary and burial services were free, contrary to the reports from families and human rights organizations.

During the return journey to Kermanshah, Aminian’s family held her body in the backseat, stained with blood and tears. Once home, they discovered security forces surrounding their residence. With no alternatives, they buried Aminian in a roadside pit and left, leaving her in an unmarked grave.

As of now, Aminian’s family has not had any contact with relatives in Iran since January 14, 2024. The pain of their loss is compounded by the lack of support and the fear of retribution from authorities.