Iran paves over mass grave of 1979 revolution victims, turning it into a parking lot
Original story by
ABC News•Sep 6•Politics, Rights
📰 Article Summary
Iran is currently transforming Lot 41 of the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran, an area believed to contain the remains of thousands executed following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, into a parking lot. This decision has sparked outrage due to the site's significance as a burial ground for political dissidents, with critics arguing it represents an effort to erase evidence of state atrocities. Iranian officials have acknowledged the project without providing details on the bodies believed to be buried there, while human rights advocates see this as part of a broader campaign against historical accountability.
📌 Key Facts
- Site Transformation: Lot 41, a section of the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, is being repurposed into a parking lot despite its historical significance as a burial ground for victims of the 1979 mass executions in Iran.
- State Response: Iranian authorities have justified the repurposing of the cemetery by claiming it was necessary to accommodate parking needs, while avoiding discussions about the deceased individuals buried beneath.
- Historical Erasure: Critics, including activists and scholars, argue that paving over the cemetery is part of a systematic effort to erase evidence of past human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime.
- International Reaction: A UN special rapporteur labeled Iran's actions as an attempt to conceal evidence of state violence, emphasizing a pattern of historical destruction linked to human rights abuses.
- Ongoing Struggles: Families of victims continue to seek justice and accountability for their loved ones, with the destruction of burial sites complicating their efforts for truth and recognition.
📂 Article Classification
Topic Tags: Iran's cemetery destruction
📍 Location
Tehran, Iran
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