Nika Shakarami: Iranian Teen Body Allegedly ‘Stolen’ By Security Forces

Rabat – Serious claims were made against the Iranian authorities by teen protester Nika Shakarami’s family, as they planned to bury their daughter this Monday, only to find her body had been “snatched” and buried in a village approximately 40 kilometers away, BBC Persian reported.

Shakarami went missing after participating in protests on September 20. The protests were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini after she was allegedly beaten by the Iranian authorities after her arrest by the country’s morality police for “improper attire.”

Nika’s body was discovered in a detention morgue center in Tehran, Iran’s capital. Shakarami family members said they were not allowed to see Nika’s body, only being permitted to see her face to identify her.

Sunday, which would have been the teen’s 17th birthday, was the last time the family had contact with Nika’s body. On that day they transferred their daughter to Khorramabad, the hometown of Nika’s bereaved father, in the western region of the country.

Following the accusations, protests broke out in the Khorramabad cemetery. Protestors were seen angrily chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator.”

On Twitter, a video of Nika Shakarami standing on stage singing and laughing was posted by BBC correspondent Nafiseh Kohnavard.

“She was full of life,” Kohnavard wrote. “Nika joined [the Iran Protests] on Sept 20. Ten days later her family was asked to go to Kahrizak prison to get her body.”

“The authorities didn’t allow the family to have a funeral for her while arresting her aunt & uncle,” she added.

Nika Shakarami’s aunt, Atash Shakarami, told the BBC the last message Nika had sent before her death was to her friend saying she was being chased by security authorities.

Another source told the BBC that Atash had been arrested on Sunday by the police, and the rest of the family had received death threats from the security forces should they choose to participate in the protests.

There have been previous records of death and violence when people in Iran speak out against the government’s decisions. Last month, young activist Hadis Najafi was shot dead by security forces in Karaj, Najafi’s sister stated she was shot in the head by Iranian authorities.

Prior to the recent protests, Sepideh Rashno was also arrested by security forces for not “properly” wearing her hijab, leading to injuries that left her hospitalized.