As Iran Grieves, Accounts Emerge of Disrespectful Treatment of Protest Victims

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 7 min read 100% complete by Erika Solomon and Kiana HayeriJanuary 23, 2026 at 11:26 AM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

long article 7 min

In Tehran's largest cemetery, Behesht-e Zahra, families buried protest victims after a brutal government crackdown on anti-government protests. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where families frantically searched for their loved ones among piles of corpses, and were met with the arrival of refrigerated trucks dumping more bodies onto the ground. The breaking point came when cemetery workers threw body bags into the hallway, prompting crowds to push forward and curse Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Security forces intervened, stopping some from filming the protests. Videos shared by others have verified the events, showing mothers crying and shouting as they called for help. The incident occurred during weeks of anti-government protests that were eventually stifled by a government crackdown.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Agence France-Presse 30% Behesht-e Zahra 50% The New York Times ×250% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 60% Kiarash ×570% Tehran ×270% Iran ×390%

Keywords

iran protests 90% government crackdown 80% disrespectful treatment 70% protest victims 70% body bags 60% cemetery 60% ayatollah ali khamenei 50% mortuary 50% human rights 40%